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MEMOIR 



OF 



HARRIET WARE, 

FIRST SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CHILDREN'S HOME, IN 
THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE. 



" She hath been a succourer of many." 

Romans, xvi. 2. 



-;.■• 

PROVIDENCE: 

GEORGE H.WHITNEY. 

1850. 



J3~Knzf 

• tV33 id 3 
I If 5 6 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by 

George H. Whitney, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of 

Rhode Island. 



THURSTON, TORRY & COMPANY, PRINTERS, 

31 Devonshire Street. 



ho 



PREFACE. 



When it was first proposed to prepare for the press 
a Memoir of Harriet Ware, it was believed that a large 
number of her letters could be collected, from which 
a suitable volume might be compiled. This expecta- 
tion, however, proved to be unfounded. A few years 
before her death, she had destroyed all her manuscripts, 
and among them, probably, a personal account of her 
labors in connection with the Children's Friend Society. 
There remained, therefore, no record of her life, except 
that which could be gleaned from letters written in 
haste, frequently at long intervals, and without the 
most distant expectation that they would meet the eye 
of any other person than the friend to whom they 
-were addressed. Of such materials the present 
volume is composed. Imperfect as the record may 
appear, it will not, perhaps, be wholly devoid of 



IV PREFACE. 

interest, as it contains all that remains of the writings 
of one, who, by elevated Christian character, and 
most disinterested benevolence, had greatly endeared 
herself to a large number of the citizens of Provi- 
dence. 

The publication of the work has been for several 
months delayed, at first from the hope that a larger 
amount of materials might be collected ; and afterwards, 
in consequence of engagements which could not be 
laid aside. This delay has not, however, been without 
its advantages, as two of the most valuable communi- 
cations which the volume contains, were received only 
a few weeks since. * 

The compiler has divided the work into three 
chapters, each of which comprises the letters written 
by Miss Ware during a distinct period of her life. 
The first contains letters written previous to her resi- 
dence at India Point ; the second, those written during 
her residence there ; and the third, those written from 
the commencement of her connection with the Chil- 
dren's Friend Society to the close of her life. To 
each of these chapters, a few explanatory remarks are 

* Since the sheets have passed out of the editor's hands, some 
additional communications have been received, which it has not 
been in his power to read. 



PREFACE. V 

prefixed, principally with the design of giving conti- 
nuity to the narrative. 

It is, I presume, superfluous to add, that if any 
profits should accrue from the sale of this little volume, 
they will be the property of the Children's Friend 
Society, the exclusive owners of the copyright. 

Brown University, March 21, 1849. 



MEMOIR OF HARRIET WARE. 



MEMOIR. 



CHAPTER I. 



Harriet Ware was born in Paxton, Massa- 
chusetts, on the 12th of July, 1799. 

Her father was a respectable, intelligent, and 
amiable man, of high moral principle and great 
personal worth, but not a professor of religion. 
Her mother was a devout and active Christian, 
remarkable for the same independence and 
decision of character that distinguished her 
daughter. 

In early life Miss Ware was gay and thought- 
less, and wholly devoted to the search after 
pleasure. Throughout her life, whatever she 
pursued she pursued with her whole heart. 
Yet even then the irrepressible kindness of 
her nature was frequently exhibited in acts of 
self-denying and almost romantic benevolence, 
1 



MEMOIR OF 



which left a deep impression on the memory of 
her early associates. Being the eldest daughter, 
she occupied a prominent place in the family, 
and gave early indications of that decision and 
energy which she so fully exhibited in subse- 
quent life. Her character was strongly marked 
and eminently natural. Religion purified, enno- 
bled, and harmonized its elements ; but, from 
the structure of her mind, an observer would 
easily perceive that no change of circumstances 
or condition could have made her any thing 
else than a strong-minded, original, benevolent, 
and sagacious woman. 

About the year 1819, Miss Ware became 
personally interested in the subject of religion ; 
and in September of that year, having removed 
to Franklin, Mass., she made a public profession 
of her faith, and united herself with the church 
in that town, under the pastoral charge of the 
late Dr. Emmons. The whole force of her 
character was now turned in a new direction. 
Her renunciation of the world was sincere and 
universal, and most earnestly did she labor to 
follow in the footsteps of Him " who went 
about doing good." With the hope of extend- 
ing the sphere of her usefulness, she attended a 
private school for some time, and then com- 



HARRIET WARE. 6 

menced her labors as a teacher. She first 
taught a school in Union, Me., but soon re- 
moved to the southern part of Rhode Island, 
where she was employed as a teacher until her 
removal to Providence. 

During the period of her residence in Rhode 
Island, a perceptible change seems to have 
taken place in her religious character. Her 
views of the great doctrines of religion seem 
to have become more definite and impressive, 
and her inmost spirit was brought into more 
immediate subjection to the teachings of the 
Word of God. Hence, also, her faith became, 
in an unusual degree, simple, confiding, and 
absolute. There was something in her trust in 
God, under all circumstances, during her subse- 
quent life, which reminded one of the faith of 
martyrs and primitive Christians. She received 
the precepts of the Gospel as the commands of 
a parent addressed to a beloved child. The 
promises of God were to her no vague generali- 
ties, but positive assurances, on which she relied 
with earnest, humble, and whole-hearted confi- 
dence. It is natural to believe that this deep 
religious trust, uniting itself with natural firm- 
ness of character, would prepare her, in an 
unusual degree, for works of independent and 



* MEMOIR OF 

original usefulness. Her native resolution be- 
came calmer, but more firm and unwavering ; 
for it derived its energy from intimate com- 
munion with God. Her decisions were not the 
mere impulses of an indomitable spirit, but the 
purposes of a soul assured that it was fulfilling 
the commands of its Father who is in heaven. 

Hence it was that Miss Ware was led to 
undertake labors, from which others of her sex 
would commonly have shrunk, and to devise 
ways of usefulness which others have never 
attempted. For the same reason she seemed to 
rely on herself, and to follow the suggestions of 
her own mind, with a confidence which, to 
those who did not understand her principles, 
sometimes seemed obstinacy. She had early 
learned to rely so exclusively on God, and to be 
guided so entirely by her own convictions of 
duty, and the path in which she was to w r alk 
had been so often pointed out to her, that she 
seemed not to feel, as much as most persons, 
the need of human aid. God had so often 
appeared for her when other helpers failed, that 
she had learned habitually to expect his inter- 
ference in her behalf. With such views, it is 
not surprising that she removed to Rhode Island 
in order to commence a school, in what she then 



HARRIET WARE. O 

supposed to be one of the most destitute regions 
of New England. It was for the same reason 
that she was directed to India Point, the most 
neglected spot in Providence. Her motive for 
going there was to do good to those whom all 
other persons believed to be irreclaimable, and 
her purpose was rendered immovable by the 
attempts of her friends to dissuade her from the 
enterprise. 

The reader would however greatly err, if he 
supposed Miss Ware to be, in any respect, ab- 
stracted, gloomy, or fanatical. Her nature was 
remarkably genial, and her sympathy for all the 
forms of suffering, intense. Her love of chil- 
dren amounted to a passion. She seemed " to 
rejoice as in hid treasure," whenever she had 
added to the number of her charge a forsaken 
and friendless orphan ; and the more destitute 
the child appeared, the feebler and the more 
helpless, the better did she love it, and delight 
to watch over it with more than maternal soli- 
citude. And if any of the children that she 
was thus attempting to rescue from destruction 
turned out badly, it was surprising to observe 
the variety of expedients which she employed 
to incline them to virtue. If a boy or girl was 
presented to the care of the society, of a singu- 



D MEMOIR OF 

larly bad reputation, she was peculiarly anxious 
to receive it, with the evident feeling that, to 
reclaim such an one, was a special triumph of 
benevolence. In this kind of labor she was 
eminently successful, and her experiences re- 
called to mind the saying of the missionary 
Eliot, when he had translated the Bible into 
one of the languages of the aborigines, " Pray- 
ers and pains, with the blessing of God, can 
accomplish any thing." 

Nor was this earnest and expansive benevo- 
lence, in the case of Miss Ware, at all allied to 
that indiscriminate kindness which is easily 
rendered the dupe of every artful impostor. On 
the contrary, she was remarkable for search- 
ing shrewdness of observation, and instinctive 
knowledge of character. No one more readily 
discriminated between acting and seeming to 
act, between sentimental talk and earnest pur- 
pose, or more correctly measured the amount 
and quality of the capacity of those with whom 
she was called to act. By a single epithet, 
casually and probably inadvertently thrown in, 
it would be evident that scarcely a social or 
intellectual bias, in those with whom she was 
conversant, escaped her. In common with most 
persons of original thought, she had a strong 



HARRIET WARE. / 

bias to humor, and even to drollery. This gave, 
at times, great point and interest to her conver- 
sation, and not unfrequently, even when suffer- 
ing under distressing pain, extracted a smile 
from those who were all but weeping around 
her. These slight intimations of her character 
seemed requisite, in order to enable the reader 
to sympathize in the sentiments which breathe 
through the following letters. They present at 
best but a most imperfect representation of the 
mind and heart of their author. They are 
merely extracts of such of her letters as could be 
collected, but they will not, I trust, be wholly 
without interest ; since they contain all the 
written memorials that remain of a remarkable 
and most benevolent woman. 



EXTRACTS OF LETTERS 

Written by Miss Ware, from the time of her profession of religion 
to her removal to Providence, 1819 — 1830. 



RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. 

Miss Ware united with the Congregational 
Church in Franklin, Mass., September 26, 1819. 



8 



MEMOIR OF 



The following is the relation of her religious 
experience, transcribed from the original copy. 

Franklin, Sept. 23, 1847. 
I have great reason to rejoice that I was 
born of parents, b^ whom I was early devoted 
to God in baptism, and in a land of Gospel 
light, where I have enjoyed means sufficient, 
not only to become acquainted with the char- 
acter of God, but with my duty towards Him ; 
but ought to be deeply humbled that I have 
lived the greatest part of my life in an entire 
forgetfulness of the obligations I was under to 
love and serve Him. Since the year 1816, my 
peace has been frequently disturbed by fearful 
apprehensions of punishment, but am not con- 
scious of ever realizing sin in itself as an infinite 
evil, until the last year, in the course of which, 
God was pleased to set home divine truth upon 
my conscience. I then saw that I was without 
God in the world. Religion appeared the one 
thing needful. I thought I was willing to sacri- 
fice every other enjoyment for an interest in 
Christ. But this was very far from relieving 
my mind. On hearing a sermon preached from 
John i. 29, " Behold the Lamb of God which 
taketh away the sins of the world/' I plainly 



HARRIET WARE. V 

saw that Christ had offered himself a sacrifice 
for sin, and that He was then inviting all to 
come to Him that they might have life. I sen- 
sibly felt that my sins had separated me from 
God, and that it was entirely out of my power 
to do any thing to recommend myself to His 
favor. In this hopeless situation I humbly trust 
I was enabled, through divine grace, to commit 
myself unreservedly into the hands of God. I 
thought I felt satisfaction in being a creature in 
the hands of a holy God. Soon after, I found 
myself involved in darkness, and was left to 
believe that I was a stranger to saving faith in 
Christ. But I have since cherished the hope 
that my trust and confidence was in God. 
Christians now appear amiable ; the Sabbath, 
which was once long and tiresome, now ap- 
pears like a day of sacred rest ; the Bible, 
which once appeared like a sealed book, is now 
a source of pleasant and profitable instruction. 

I think I have now a desire to be on the 
Lord's side, and feel it a duty to unite with 
His people in this place. I do therefore offer 
myself to this Church, soliciting your accept- 
ance of me, and prayers for me and watchful- 
ness over me, that I may live agreeable to the 

profession I now make. 

Harriet Ware. 



10 MEMOIR OF 

The remaining letters are inserted in the 
order in which they were written, and do not, 
that I am aware, need any explanation. 

Franklin, Jan. 2, 1825. 
To Mrs. C. M. My dear C. — I have before 
related to you something of the interesting 
season I have passed at Salem, and have now 
hinted at the general state of feeling in this our 
beloved Franklin. Do you not ask how your 
friend H. stands affected with all this ? Could 
I enjoy that free and familiar conversation 
which I have thought so great a privilege in 
former days, I think I could speak freely on the 
subject. I scarcely dare to write, lest I should 
give you reason to think that I have felt more 
than I really have. When I first left Franklin 
it was peculiarly trying, as you may well sup- 
pose, to be entirely separated from every friend 
in whom I could discover the least similarity of 
sentiment or feeling. I viewed it as a severe 
correction, but was very far from exercising any 
thing like corresponding affections towards Him 
from whom it was sent. I really felt that I was 
the Achan to be removed, before God could 
pour out His Spirit upon this church, and on 
that ground thought I felt a kind of hypocritical 



HARRIET WARE. 11 

submission ; but, my dear friend, I have since 
thought that I enjoyed some evidence that God 
was dealing with me in covenant love and 
faithfulness. If I am not deceived, I have 
been enabled to say, with a degree of sincerity. 
" Whom have I in heaven but Thee ? and there 
is none on earth that I desire besides Thee." It 
truly appears like infinite condescension in the 
High and Holy One, thus to deal with the 
vilest of all, who are permitted to hope in His 
mercy. I left Franklin with deep regret, feared 
the consequence, though I had promised never 
again to distrust a wise Providence. And now, 
my dear C, though I have reason to be aston- 
ished at my criminal coldness, neglect of duty, 
and unconcern for the salvation of precious and 
immortal souls, for whom Christ suffered and 
died ; yet, at times, since my return, I think I 
have enjoyed a nearness of access to the throne 
of divine grace that is to me almost new. I 
have peculiar trials, but think I can sincerely 
rejoice in committing all that life holds dear 
into the hands of Him, who suffereth not a 
sparrow to fall to the ground without Him, and 
who will certainly be glorified in all the works 
of His hands. I have already said too much of 
self; you know I always do. Will you pray 



12 MEMOIR OF 

for me and for this people, that God would take 
from us whatever is offensive, prepare to receive 
a blessing, and in His time pour it out ? 



Hopkinton, August 19, 1828. 
To Miss M. — But O my heart, what iniquity- 
reigns there ! I find it a cage of every unclean 
bird ; but how little do I know of the depths 
of its iniquity. I am continually crying out, 
guilty, guilty , as did Judas ; but greatly fear 
that I have never known any thing of the peni- 
tence of Peter. I know indeed something about 
the Spirit, but if I have been born of the Spirit, 
where are the fruits of righteousness ? I cannot 
find them in my life. I know not of a single 
soul who would have been led, from my exam- 
ple, to glorify their Father in heaven. I have 
long been a companion of the wise, and still 
hold the lamp in my hand ; but, my friend, I 
fear I have not a drop of that kind of oil which 
will continue to burn when the midnight cry 
shall be made. I have just religion enough, 
and hardly that, to strip the world of every 
charm, but not enough to raise my heart in 
humble gratitude and adoration to the great 
Source of all happiness. Will you not fervently 



HARRIET WARE. 13 

pray for me, that, if I have built upon the sand, 
my hopes may be swept away, before it is for- 
ever too late ; and if upon the rock Christ Jesus, 
that I may possess and manifest more the spirit 
of my Divine Master ? 



RESOLUTIONS. 

Hopkinton, Sept. 7, 18-28. 
In view of the wretched state of a vast num- 
ber of the human family who are ignorant of 
the only name given under heaven, whereby 
men can be saved, and of the astonishing mercy 
of God towards so vile a worm, that he not only 
has caused the glorious light of the Gospel to 
shine upon me, and permitted me to indulge 
a trembling hope of pardon and acceptance 
through the merits of a once crucified Re- 
deemer, but in various ways has so signally 
distinguished me in his providential dealings ; 
I feel it a sacred duty and privilege to inquire 
what I shall render unto the Lord for all His 
benefits. In humble dependence on God for 
His gracious assistance, 

Resolved, that the ensuing year shall be more 
exclusively devoted to the cause of Christ in 
the world than any preceding. 



14 MEMOIR OF 

Resolved, that both by my influence, and by 
contributing of my substance, I will try to pro- 
mote the benevolent objects presented before 
the Christian public. 

Resolved^ that if God should preserve my 
health, and so far prosper me that it can be 
consistent^ I will devote at least % exclu- 
sively to such benevolent objects as God in His 
providence shall point out, praying for His di- 
rection and blessing. 

Resolved^ that I will spend no more time in 
sleep than I think my health requires ; that I 
will try, as far as possible, to improve all my 
time, so dividing it between labor, study, devo- 
tion, and rest, as is best calculated to promote 
the specified object ; and to this end, I will 
strive to maintain a realizing conviction that 
the eye of God is upon me, and that I am con- 
stantly and entirely dependent upon Him, and 
in this dependence may I find both strength and 
safety. 

Resolved) that every day shall begin (if not 
prevented by positive reason) with reading the 
Bible in a devout manner, and humble prayer to 
God for the influences of His Spirit, not only 
to enable me to walk as becometh a professed 
follower of Christ, but that they may descend 



HARRIET WARE. 15 

on the world of mankind in general, and His 
own dear children in particular. And may the 
Lord, for the sake of Jesus, enable me to fulfil 
these solemn vows ; and all the glory shall be 
given to His great and holy name, Father, Son, 
and Spirit. 



Cranston, June, 1830. 

Dear Miss G. — I am much obliged to you 
for sending me your book, tracts, &c. by the 
stage. I returned the book immediately, be- 
cause I had obtained it for myself. 

In consequence of the rain this morning, I 
have had no Sabbath school to-day ; therefore 
have had time to read the tracts with some 
attention. You ask my opinion ; I suppose 
from the well known fact, that I am always 
ready to give it. This is no argument in favor 
of its correctness ; yet, as far as I have formed 
an opinion, I have no objection to your know- 
ing what it is. With the name of the society 
by which they are published, I am pleased. 
You well know that though I do use tracts and 
books which I think do not contain any thing 
positively bad, yet you as well know I think 
most of the popular books and publications of 
the present day radically defective. The best of 



16 MEMOIR OF 

the books to which I refer, say nothing that is 
bad, but leave out what is essentially good, 
under the pretext that this and that (though 
primary articles in the preaching and writings 
of the inspired apostles, and indeed I may say 
of the Bible throughout), are nothing but doc- 
trines, are not acceptable, are not essential, and 
therefore ought to be omitted. Thus a kind of 
affection, or good-will for religion, is inspired in 
hearts that would burn with indignation if the 
character and government of God should be 
exhibited as it is revealed in the Bible. We 
know that it is only for an impenitent sinner to 
feel that he is in the hands of a holy Sovereign, 
and he is the subject of the keenest sufferings ; 
therefore it is judged prudent to conceal the 
disagreeable truth. But my dear Miss G., these 
things ought not so to be. I do not see what 
can screen this gross deceit from the angry rod 
of the God of truth. If there are men of sound 
discretion, talents, and piety, whose eyes are 
open to the evils which must result from such a 
course of deception, I should rejoice exceedingly 
to have them take the lead of some society, 
whose object should be to disseminate truth, 
stript of that mantle of darkness in which it has 
taken so much time and labor and study to 
enshroud it. 



HARRIET WARE. 17 

But, say you, this is not to the point. " Are 
these tracts of the character you like ? " I 
answer, the first and third numbers I like well. 
When I see you I will say a little about one 
clause in the first number, " That no one has 
any more true religion, than he has doctrinal 
knowledge" Of number four, perhaps I ought 
to say nothing, only that the subject demands 
something unexceptionable good. I should like 
just to ask, what the author means by inserting 
the prayer of David in the connection in which it 
stands. Does he mean to insinuate that it was 
the aspiration of an impenitent heart ? or did he 
mean that it should be understood according to 
the taste of the reader ? Again, I do firmly 
believe that any truth of the Bible can be 
clearly exhibited, in all its connections and bear- 
ings, much better without than with the help of 
the terms Calvinist, Hopkinsian, Arminian, &c. 
I do believe that thosa who adhere closely to 
the direction in their preaching, or writing, " to 
know nothing but Christ and him crucified," in 
all its parts, will clearly exhibit the whole system 
of truth, (I do not mean in one tract or sermon,) 
and never find occasion to use these or similar 
terms. I have written only a few of my 
thoughts. Perhaps these had better been kept 

2 



18 MEMOIR OF 

to myself; perhaps better not have been in- 
dulged even there. If I am harboring within 
my bosom a cavilling spirit, may I be convinced 
of my wickedness and find forgiveness. If any 
thing of the love of truth be there, may it be 
diffused, until professed Christians shall make 
as great exertions to have the truth understood, 
as is now made to make it seem like something 
else. 



Cranston, August 5, 1830. 
My Dear Friend Elizabeth — It is Sabbath 
afternoon. Probably you are this moment list- 
tening with pleasing interest to hear a good 
gospel sermon. If so, do not forget that you 
are one of the comparatively few thus favored ; 
one of the favored few who can unite with kin- 
dred spirits in the solemn service of worshipping 
the great God. My dear friend, we are both 
involved in the awful responsibility of having 
been exalted to the very heavens in point of 
privileges. But what am I writing ! I meant 
to say, that I have recently been asking myself, 
what I have ever been constrained by the love 
of Christ to do for His cause in the world ? I 
do believe that the love of Christ is the mighty 



HARRIET WARE. 19 

engine by which the church is to be impelled 
in all her forward marches ; yet I must ac- 
knowledge that I find in my heart altars erected 
on which sacrifice is daily offered to other 
deities. So true is this, that the natural infer- 
ence seems to be that, to say the least, it is 
extremely doubtful whether supreme love to 
Christ ever reigned there. * * * * 

* * Possibly I might not have made 
this confession, but that you might more deeply 
feel that the strength of the church can in no 
wise be estimated by its numbers ; and that 
the few, who are the disciples of Christ indeed, 
have a mighty work to do. I well know that 
the church is only sure of final victory, because 
an Almighty Sovereign is her King ; yet He 
does condescend to accept the services of His 
children. I seem to see more and more clearly, 
(though I feel nothing,) that the spirit of Christ, 
the spirit of prayer, in a word, the only spirit 
that can ever breathe in heaven, is a spirit of 
holy action, of holy enterprise. As clearly, too, 
can I see that, of all the honors and privileges 
which were ever conferred on guilty man, that 
of being a servant of Christ, a co-worker with 
Him in building up and extending His king- 
dom, is infinitely the most desirable. I can see, 



20 MEMOIR OF 

too, how powerful is the motive for vigorous 
exertion to all who will take hold of the pro- 
mises, " that God worketh in you," &c. Though 
i" see what I cannot feel, I do ardently desire 
every one, in whose bosom ever glowed the 
flame of divine love, to feel and act for Christ ; 
ever remembering that the joy that was set 
before Christ, and for which He endured so 
much, was that He might " purify unto himself 
a people who should be zealous of good works, ." 
Though I may never be allowed to unite in the 
song of the redeemed, may you who are Chris- 
tians indeed, be permitted to raise higher your 
notes of praise, by knowing that you have been 
instrumental in pointing many souls to the 
Saviour of the world. I hardly dare to read 
what I have written ; I know it will not sound 
just as I meant to have it. But I have a strong 
conviction on my mind that the most humble 
and active Christians will wonder when they 
arrive in heaven, that they have actually done 
so little for Him, who has given His dear Son 
for them ; for Him who has laid down His life 
for them. Was it possible for a happy spirit to 
feel a sensation of regret, would they not feel 
it in view of this subject ? 



HARRIET WARE. 21 

Cranston, Sept. 11, 1830. 
To Miss M. Daniels. — What do you hear 
or know that indicates that Christians are be- 
coming more awake to the solemn responsibility 
that rests upon them ? It is an affecting truth 
that the world lieth in wickedness, and that it 
is to be brought to the knowledge of the truth 
as it is in Jesus, by a little company of his 
friends ; that is, that they are to be employed 
as instruments in the glorious enterprise. Do 
you think that Christians generally are aware of 
the field that is opened before them, when they 
are commanded really to act for Christ ? Is it 
sufficiently considered that the spirit of prayer 
is the very spirit of holy action ? The history 
of Christ and the apostles surely presents not 
merely feelings, but a continued scene of un- 
paralleled exertions and self-denial. And how 
many facilities have Christians now for extend- 
ing the kingdom of the Redeemer that the 
apostles had not. There are things in connec- 
tion with this subject that have rested with 
fearful interest upon the mind of your friend H. 
of late. I can sometimes seem to realize that 
not being actively engaged for Christ is about 
the same thing as taking sides with the great 
enemy. 



22 MEMOIR OF 

Cranston, Sept. 26, 1830. 

To Miss M. W. — I have thought more than 
usual of late, that, if the standard of personal 
piety could be raised, it would do more to 
extend the interests of Zion than a hundred 
new societies and agents that make a great 
show in the world. I know there must be 
societies and agents, and wish there were many- 
more than there are ; but, if the love of Christ 
would move every wheel in the vast machinery 
of Christian enterprise, the nations of the earth 
could soon become the kingdom of Christ. 
Oh, how many spirits, in opposition to this only 
one on which God can look with approbation, 
have gone abroad, wearing the garb of Christian 
benevolence. 

But, sister Mary, if I have cause for humble 
gratitude, you have cause to rejoice exceedingly. 
If you are in the midst of a revival of religion, 
you do see the glory of God passing before you, 
in the salvation of souls, more precious than a 
million of globes of gold. But while you re- 
joice, as you certainly must if you have one 
particle of love to the Saviour, can you realize 
the awful responsibility that rests upon every 
individual who is allowed to witness such a 
scene? If pure and undefiled religion is re- 



HARRIET WARE. 23 

vived, the Spirit is poured out, and can you 
suppose it will be withdrawn, until grieved 
away by the sins of Christians? I verily be- 
lieve this sentiment. I know God is a Sove- 
reign, but He always adapts the means to the 
end. The very place where you stand is holy 
ground, and may grace be given you so to walk, 
that when the great day shall disclose the 
secrets of all hearts, it may not be found that 
the Divine Spirit has been provoked to with- 
draw His heavenly influences by any of your 
sins. I often think of you, and if you will 
allow me, will say, that, from the nature of 
your employment, and some circumstances con- 
nected with your situation, I fear lest you be 
tempted to substitute Christian converse and 
general good feeling, for deep humility, watch- 
fulness and communion with God. This you 
will receive as a friendly caution, not as a 
charge. 



The following extract from one of Miss 
Ware's scholars, bears testimony to her fidelity 
as a teacher and her great success in imparting 
religious instruction to her pupils. 



24 



MEMOIR OF 



Hopkinton, Sept. 7, 1849. 

tv tIF «P* 3g> 

Miss Ware came here in August, 1827, to 
teach school. I remember perfectly well the 
first morning, when, with several other children, 
I called at my uncle's, where Miss W. was 
boarding, and she was introduced to us as our 
teacher. What was our surprise when some 
were welcomed by a shake of the hand, others 
by a pat on the head, and the smaller ones with 
a kiss on the cheek ; this, with her smiles and 
gentle kindness, soon won our affections and 
espect, and made a deep and lasting impression 
on the mind, which time will never efface. 
We went in company with her to school, where 
we met the other children, and they too were 
received in the same kind and friendly manner. 
She commenced the school with prayer, gave 
such instruction as she thought proper, and 
arranged the classes. Each scholar was directed 
what to do, and how to do it. She was always 
ready and willing to explain the "whys and 
wherefores," as she called them ; therefore we 
had no trouble, and were happy. All this was 
so unlike what we had been accustomed to from 
former teachers, that we all felt we had secured 
a friend as well as teacher. Thus pleasantly 
and happily passed the few short weeks of the 



HARRIET WARE. 25 

summer's school. She also possessed a very 
peculiar and interesting way of explaining all 
that was difficult and perplexing to the children ; 
she would never yield the point until all was 
fully understood. I recollect one instance in 
particular. A little girl was very much troubled 
about understanding her grammar ; she had 
studied it a long time, learned almost every part 
of it, could repeat it correctly when asked, and 
yet was entirely ignorant of its principles. 
Miss W. soon discovered her embarrassment, 
and tried to explain the difficulties, but found it 
too much of a task to accomplish during school 
hours ; she kindly said, I have not time to 
attend to it now as I wish, but think I can 
make you love grammar yet. Just take your 
book in your hand, and we will walk home 
together : and I think by the time we separate 
you will think grammar a pretty study. The 
task was accomplished, and ever after it was 
among her pleasant lessons. All the duties of 
the school were conducted in the same perse- 
vering, gentle manner. Her employers soon 
became as much attached to her as her pupils 
were, and they were anxious she should take 
the winter school. She reluctantly accepted. 
Her fear of incompetency was such, that she 



26 MEMOIR OF 

went to Providence, to prepare herself for the 
term. She then returned, and resumed her 
labors under very favorable circumstances. She 
was perfectly qualified for every department, 
and gave general satisfaction. It was the most 
interesting school I ever attended. It was large ; 
the house small and crowded, yet the most per- 
fect order and system prevailed. Her time and 
talents were devoted to the scholars ; she studied 
constantly the best method of teaching them 
how to spend their time profitably and plea- 
santly, and succeeded. Her religious influence 
and example produced a beneficial and lasting 
effect. Her daily life and conversation proved 
that she had been with Jesus. Many of those 
who attended her school received their first 
religious impressions from her, and almost all 
of them have become worthy members of the 
church of Christ. 



HARRIET WARE. 27 



CHAPTER II. 

RESIDENCE AT INDIA POINT. 

In the spring of 1832, Miss Ware commenced 
her labors at India Point. A lady who had 
become acquainted with her energy of charac- 
ter, her success as a teacher, and her single- 
hearted devotedness as a Christian, suggested to 
her this locality as a field of labor for which 
she seemed peculiarly adapted. The reasons 
which led her to adopt this suggestion, and 
become a missionary in this destitute neighbor- 
hood, are sufficiently made known in the course 
of the following correspondence. Her success 
was such as to lead her to another undertaking, 
in which she also became eminently useful. A 
few preliminary remarks may perhaps enable 
the reader the better to comprehend the nature 
of her situation. 

What is termed India Point is a small suburb 
of Providence, at a considerable distance from 



28 MEMOIR OF 

the centre of the city, on the bank of the 
Seekonk or Pawtucket River, at the spot where 
a bridge connects the State of Rhode Island 
with the State of Massachusetts. It consists of 
a cluster of small houses, inhabited principally 
by oystermen and fishermen, presenting nothing 
in its general appearance that would distinguish 
it from similar situations which may be found 
in the vicinity of most large towns. The occu- 
pation of the inhabitants had brought them but 
little into contact with the rest of the commu- 
nity. They enjoyed the same opportunities for 
intellectual and moral cultivation as their fellow- 
citizens, and it was, I presume, taken for granted 
that they improved them in a similar manner. 
No one was led in this direction by the calls of 
business, and no one had taken the pains to 
inquire whether the people of this little hamlet 
were either better or worse than their neighbors. 
In this manner they had been sadly overlooked 
by the benevolent, and had formed a community 
in some respects clannish, and were to a con- 
siderable degree separated from the rest of the 
population. For myself, I must confess, that, 
until I heard of Miss Ware's labors, 1 do not 
think that I had ever heard of the existence of 
such a neighborhood as India Point, and, of 



HARRIET WARE. 29 

course, I knew nothing of the destitution of its 
inhabitants. Its moral condition was, I believe, 
first made known by some zealous and self- 
denying tract distributors, or by the pious 
teacher of a common school in its vicinity. In 
this manner its wants were revealed to the 
religious public, and the feeling thus awakened 
led to the introduction of Miss Ware to this 
city. 

If I do not err, Miss Ware was invited to 
commence her labors at India Point by a society 
of benevolent ladies, who had, for many years, 
been actively engaged in providing pious school 
teachers for the most destitute regions of Rhode 
Island. At this time, there was no provision 
by the State for general education, and the need 
of such private effort for the instruction of the 
young was sufficiently apparent. It was through 
the labors of this society that the wants of the 
State w r ere more fully made known to the pub- 
lic ; and thus the present advanced position of 
this State, in the means for universal education, 
may date its origin from the unostentatious 
labors of a few pious females. It was, I believe; 
their practice to pay the teacher a part of her 
support, leaving her to obtain the remainder 
from the parents of her pupils. This rule 



30 MEMOIR OF 

though doubtless the best that could have been 
adopted, in the present case, subjected Miss 
Ware to inconveniences, of which her friends at 
the time were not aware. 

The situation at India Point was, in a re- 
markable degree, adapted to call out the native 
energies of Miss Ware's character. She could 
labor here alone, without the danger of being 
annoyed by interference from any quarter what- 
ever. She was in the midst of a neighborhood 
which seemed to have been given up as hope- 
less. This awakened all her enterprise. She 
was told that the attempt which she was about 
to make was absurd ; and the " ruling elders," 
to use her own expression, in a most paternal 
way, told her " she must not think of it." This 
at once nerved her to the final resolution to 
accomplish the work, or perish. But, above all, 
she felt as a practical truth, that she was a 
redeemed sinner, constrained by the love of 
Christ not to live for herself, but for Him who 
had died for her and risen again. This senti- 
ment of gratitude absorbed and transcended 
every other. To be conscious that she was in 
a common and formal manner giving up herself 
to God, could by no means satisfy her ardent 
desires. She desired such a form of labor as 



HARRIET WARE. 31 

would have nothing but the love of Christ and 
the souls of men to recommend it ; so that, 
delivered from the temptations of ease, and the 
love of human applause, and almost bereft of 
human sympathy, she might possess the daily 
consciousness that she was obeying nothing but 
the will of God, and laying up nothing but a 
treasure in heaven. Such a situation she found 
at India Point, and the peace of God, which 
passe th all understanding, made it a Bethel to 
her soul. 

In many other minor respects she was in a 
special manner fitted for this task. Her health 
was good, and her capacity of enduring fatigue 
remarkable. Her personal courage was such as 
is rarely surpassed. Her good humor was un- 
failing, and her native love of the ludicrous 
extracted matter for mirth, from occurrences, 
which, to less elastic spirits, would have proved 
purely annoying. 

It was at this period of her life that my own 
acquaintance with Miss Ware commenced. Af- 
ter she had been for a few months engaged in 
her labors, I heard that a young woman of sin- 
gularly self-denying energy, was devoting herself 
to the welfare of this suburb of the city. In 
company with a friend, I called upon her, and 



32 MEMOIR OF 

invited her to visit me at her leisure, and inform 
me, if I could, in any manner, aid her. She 
soon afterwards accepted my invitation, and 
from that time, until her death, I was in the 
habit of seeing her frequently. 

I no sooner became acquainted with her than 
I formed the opinion of her character, which her 
whole subsequent history justified. There was 
in her conversation a tone of originality that 
indicated a mind master of its own resources, 
and accustomed to use them on any emergency. 
You saw at once that she was capable of look- 
ing at things in their true light, unembarrassed 
by the glare of conventional associations. Her 
benevolence seemed self-sacrificing to the ut- 
most limit of endurance, and yet it was emi- 
nently sagacious and practical. She never 
spoke of her labors or of herself, unless the 
object in which she was engaged rendered it 
necessary, and even then with manifest reluc- 
tance. She never made any demands upon the 
sympathy of her friends, but seemed to prefer to 
bear her own burden so long as it was possible, 
how heavy soever it might be. To put herself 
entirely out of the question, and think only of 
the cause in which she was engaged, did not 
seem to require an effort ; it had become the 



HARRIET WARE. 33 

habitual condition of her mind. In a word, she 
was one of those rare persons to whom you feel 
willing to commit any benevolent enterprise 
which she might originate, in the full confi- 
dence that she would conduct it with untiring 
energy, perfect disinterestedness, and cautious, 
yet courageous wisdom. 

During her residence at India Point, Miss 
Ware was in the habit of frequently visiting at 
my house, and asking my advice and assistance 
whenever she thought that any benefit could 
be derived from them. Most of the incidents 
which transpired at this period, have, however, 
faded from my recollection, and those which 
she has recorded in her letters, I had forgotten 
until I was reminded of them by reading her 
correspondence. I can, at this distance of time, 
recall but little of her residence there, except 
the remembrance of her toils, her self-denials, 
and her success. 

After the first impression of her labors, when 
the families around her had passed away, she 
frequently stated to me the embarrassments with 
which she was contending. Notwithstanding 
the number of conversions that had occurred, 
the neighborhood was still vicious. Many of 
her most promising pupils were the children of 
3 



34 



MEMOIR OP 



intemperate and profane parents. The lessons 
of the school-room, both on the Sabbath and the 
week day, were rendered ineffectual by the 
language and manners of the fireside and the 
play-ground. She thus became convinced that, 
in a multitude of instances, she was laboring 
with no permanent result. Evil sprung up and 
bore fruit faster than she could eradicate it. 
The children, for whose welfare she had labored 
and prayed most earnestly, and with the bright- 
est prospect of success, were led astray by the 
force of incessant bad example ; and thus all her 
hopes were over and over again blasted. 

But Miss Ware was not a person to despair 
even in circumstances like these. One form of 
effort had failed. This, however, was not to 
her an indication that her undertaking must be 
relinquished, but only that she must endeavor 
to accomplish it in some other manner. It 
occurred to her that if these children could be 
removed from their present neighborhood, and 
placed in comfortable situations in the country, 
where they might form different associations, 
and be educated under Christian influences, 
many of them might be saved. To this work 
she at once addressed herself. The confidence 
reposed in her by the parents of her pupils was 



HARRIET WARE. 35 

so great, that they were in many cases willing 
to allow her to take the charge of their children 
on these terms. By inquiry among her friends, 
in different places, she found situations for them 
as she was able ; and thus she placed many of 
them in happy Christian homes. 

In the management of this part of her labors, 
she was remarkably careful and deliberate. She 
would place a child in no family, unless she was 
previously convinced that it would be properly 
educated and prepared for usefulness, and at the 
same time treated with judicious kindness. In 
a large number of instances she found persons 
who, having been deprived of their children by 
death, or never having been blessed with off- 
spring, were willing to adopt her proteges as 
their own. In most cases no one knew of 
her arrangements, besides the parties immedi- 
ately interested. Hence the children grew up 
widely separated from each other, and in many 
cases forgetful of their origin, and almost forget- 
ful of every other family except that into w^hich 
they have been adopted. Many of them have 
already married, and are occupying respectable 
positions in society, in various parts of New 
England. 

Such was the nature of Miss Ware's labors at 



36 MEMOIR OF 

India Point. Her school was becoming gradu- 
ally a house of reformation for juvenile de- 
linquents, and a refuge for the orphan and 
friendless in that part of the city. In what 
manner it expanded into the Children's Friend 
Society, will be seen in the subsequent chap- 
ter. 



Providence, June 15, 1832. 
The same eve that I arrived here, I called 
on Miss S., to see what had been done in rela- 
tion to the India Point School. I soon ascer- 
tained that all had been done that could be 
without my own personal effort ; and that was 
just nothing, except that influential individuals 
were in favor of the object. Accordingly, Miss 
S. and myself spent the day at the Point in 
making inquiries. All seemed disposed to speak 
in favor of the school ; but most thought their 
neighbors so bad, that they feared nothing could 
be done. I was entirely faithless myself, until 
I mentioned the subject to some whose influence 
and assistance were indispensably necessary, and 
was told by such, that the object must be aban- 
doned, that the people were completely savage ; 
that it was an improper place for a female ; and 



HARRIET WARE. 37 

that a child, eight years old, would turn me out 
of school. I felt, as you will naturally infer, 
you know me so well, greatly encouraged, and 
was determined, at all events, to persevere. 
After a thousand little perplexities, some of 
which it would be quite amusing to relate if I 
had time, I succeeded in entering my school 
with seventeen scholars ; about as many as I 
expected could be obtained. The first week I 
was obliged to board two miles and a half from 
my school, not being able to obtain board in the 
vicinity of it. I soon, however, found a board- 
ing place nearer to it. My school was composed 
of a strange compound. Some had been to 
school, some had not ; some could read, some 
could not ; some seemed disposed to treat me 
civilly, some swore they would knock my brains 
out, and such like things. But, to do justice to 
them, every parent, as far as I have learned, was 
willing that their children should be governed. 
My school has gradually increased in number 
and interest, and I have now fifty scholars. It 
is considered a very encouraging circumstance, 
that the children continue to be pleased with 
the school, as most of them had been under 
no kind of restriction or discipline whatever. 
Though there seems almost every thing to dis- 



38 MEMOIR OF 

courage, yet there are some things to encourage 
persevering effort. The parents, though seem- 
ingly ignorant and forgetful of God, appear to 
regard the school as an interposition of Provi- 
dence in behalf of their children. The children, 
in some instances, are kept from Sabbath school 
and meeting to work, and are allowed to play ; 
but, in most cases, they can be collected to- 
gether, by going to every house after them to 
lead them to Sabbath school, and they gene- 
rally attend meeting and appear pleased. Not 
a single scholar in my school had ever been put 
to study, but I find them capable of improve- 
ment. 

Instead of an oath at the end of every sen- 
tence, the children seem now rather to exult 
that they do not swear or quarrel. Many other 
things rejoice my whole soul ; but as I cannot 
make you understand how much they are in- 
debted to influence from abroad, I cannot tell 
you more ; for it now looks like a kind of an 
exhibition of /, whereas I have done nothing, 
and less than that. But I can assure you there 
is much for somebody to do. Not a few married 
people have I found, who cannot read, and do 
not even know their letters. A few such have 
been induced to come to my school-room, be- 



HARRIET WARE. 39 

tween schools, and have learned to read the 
Bible. More, I hope, will be persuaded to do 
the same. The most destructive foe is intem- 
perance. I think the Point might be a good 
place for a Temperance Society, for most surely 
the children and wives, who do not get drunk, 
have seen and suffered enough to make them 
willing to promote the virtue of temperance. 
You will not despise me, I hope, if I just say 
that, in view of all I have seen here, I could not 
feel willing to die, without knowing that my 
worthless name was somewhere to be found on 
a Temperance pledge. 



Providence, August 3, 1832. 
My Dear Brother and Sister — It is so 
long since I have written to you, that I have 
quite forgotten when it was, and where it was. 
For some months past, my cares have rendered 
it impossible for me to write to any of my 
friends. But suppose I give you a little ac- 
count of myself. During the last winter, I 
received a letter from a friend in this place, 
stating the degraded state of a set of human 
beings at India Point, in this city, with a wish 



40 MEMOIR OF 

that I would come and establish a school among 
them. Many things conspired together to make 
me wish to come. It looked to me like a field 
for usefulness. I left Hopkinton again for 
Massachusetts, designing to call here and see 
what had been done about the school. I found 
that nothing could be done without my own 
immediate effort, and almost every thing seemed 
to me to forbid that effort being made. I called 
on individuals whose influence and assistance 
must be obtained, if the school should be 
established. Scarcely one was in favor of it ; 
all admitted it was needed, but said it could not 
be effected ; and that a school would not be 
sustained a fortnight. I know not how to 
account for it, except from the principle of 
obstinacy ; but I was by this greatly encour- 
aged to make the effort, and finally succeeded 
in establishing a school last April. With hum- 
ble gratitude, I wish to say, that those who had 
most tried to discourage the attempt, were 
ready to co-operate. The object has finally se- 
cured the approbation of all the good in the 
community, and I ought to say the patronage ; 
for various societies and individuals have said 
to me, If you need assistance, call upon us, and 
we will aid you. The school and neighbor- 



HARRIET WARE. 



41 



hood were better than I expected, but queer 
enough, I assure you. My number of scholars 
has increased to as great a number as I can pos- 
sibly take care of. Most of them have im- 
proved rapidly in their learning, but much more 
in their habits. What, in a special manner, 
demands my gratitude, is that the Lord, who is 
of great mercy, has appeared in the midst of us 
by His Spirit. Some of my scholars, for some 
weeks past, have appeared deeply serious, as 
well as some of their parents. Two are now 
indulging hope of pardon, through the atoning 
blood of a Saviour. Some of the parents like- 
wise indulge a hope. Much more I could say 
to interest you about them, but I fear you will 
think / am doing great things. But, my dear 
friends, this is not true. Surely there is no 
God like our God, wonderful in counsel and in 
working. It is my humble privilege, but one 
for which I wish forever to adore his infinite 
condescension, to stand a spectator and behold 
his glory with admiring gratitude. Much Chris- 
tian effort has been made in behalf of this place ; 
it is the efforts of other servants which the Lord 
has particularly blessed. I rejoice that he sends 
by whom he will send, if not by me. He 
knows the pride of my heart, and how readily 



42 MEMOIR OF 

I should exalt myself, if I could feel that / am 
doing something. 

You, probably, may know something of the 
agitation that has prevailed here in relation to 
the cholera. We are expecting it every hour, 
and have been so for weeks or months. The 
second Instant, four in one house, it is feared, 
died of that disease. I have had thoughts of sus- 
pending my school, but I have submitted to the 
advice of those who are best acquainted with 
the circumstances, and all agree that it is im- 
portant to continue the school until it may be 
broken up by the pestilence. I have never 
thought of fleeing to save my life, for no angel 
has been commissioned to inform me to what 
mountain I might fly and be secure. I have 
thought it might be desirable to die with my 
friends, but I am not anxious, and desire you 
may not be on my account. I believe I am iri 
the way of duty, and do not know that I want 
any other security than firm confidence in God. 
Perhaps I have mistaken the dictates of my 
judgment for the feelings of my heart ; but, if 
I am not deceived, my heart feels cheerful in 
the assurance that every circumstance of my 
death will be ordered by my heavenly Father. 
The Lord has been very merciful to me, though 



HARRIET WARE. 43 

I have been very rebellious and unfaithful. I 
see, more and more, that there is but one object 
worthy the entire attention of intelligent beings, 
and that is the promotion of the cause of Christ 
in the world. For this, and this alone, I pray 
that I may live, and I have but this one petition 
for you. 



Providence, August 20, 1832. 
I have found myself almost as completely 
buried at India Point, as if there were no where 
else, nor any body else in the world. I shall 
never attempt to describe to you, or any one 
else, scenes that have passed since I have been 
here, but will say, generally, that to me many 
things have appeared interesting. The children 
attend meeting and Sabbath school regularly, 
and behave with much propriety. Four fami- 
lies hired pews in the church last week. One, 
who hired a pew, had never been within the 
doors till the Sabbath before last. I will just 
say one thing in relation to myself, since I have 
been here. There have been circumstances 
which have led many to say, " Why, how 
much good she has done them ; " and even 
good people have returned thanks to the Lord, 



44 MEMOIR OF 

that he had made me instrumental of so much 
good to this people ; and, what is worse, all this 
in my hearing. Now, my dear M., I never 
believed a moment, that the Lord was pleased 
with such offerings ; and I firmly believe he 
will manifest his entire disapprobation of every 
such thought and expression. Indeed, I think 
he has begun to manifest it. Last week, from 
beginning to end, the voice of his Providence 
seemed to be, " I will humble every thing that 
exalteth itself; I will bring down every high 
look ; " and, my dear M., if my heart does not 
deceive me, I pray that he would do it. I have 
mentioned this, in part, for your profit. Do not 
suffer any one in your presence to say flattering 
things of the good you are doing ; and, if they 
offer such in sacrifice to the Lord, reprove them. 
If I have any one petition to offer in your 
behalf, it is that you may be kept humble ■, and 
this petition I desire you will offer for me. 



Providence, August 24, 1832. 
I will just mention, generally, that the indica- 
tions of Providence are still in favor of a school 
here. The Lord is certainly very gracious to 



HARRIET WARE. 45 

me, for he does allow me to occupy a place 
where I can open my eyes, and see what He is 
doing for the glory of his great name. Unwor- 
thy as I am, it has been my privilege to attend 
some of my dear children to the inquiry meet- 
ing, and to hear them express their hope of 
being pardoned sinners. You know how very 
different it is to indulge a hope, from really 
bringing forth the fruits of holiness in the life. 
Nothing yet appears to forbid the belief that 
they are what they think themselves to be. 
My dear H., do you see with what a pressure 
of circumstances I am surrounded? The pe- 
culiarly interesting state of the school and 
neighborhood, for which I have become so 
deeply interested, added to the circumstance of 
living in the daily expectation of pestilence, 
which, with but an hour's warning, might for- 
ever separate me from those, whose history for 
the judgment is going on under my instructions 
and daily influence. I can only say, O Lord, 
what am I that thou shouldst take me into 
thine account ? In view of all that I have ex- 
perienced of the great goodness of God, I have 
felt an unusual desire to consecrate myself to 
the service of Christ. 



46 MEMOIR OF 

Providence, Sept. 16, 1832. 

My Dear Father — As Rev. Mr. H. of this 
city, is to pass your house to-morrow in the 
stage, it occurs to me that it may be a trifling 
gratification to you to hear from your long 
absent daughter. * * f It seems but a 
little while since all your children eat at the 
same table ; but, my dear father, you will not 
probably ever again be thus surrounded by your 
family, on earth. But, if all are the true friends 
and followers of the Saviour, we might hope to 
meet in a father's house, to go no more out. 
This seems the errand for which we were sent 
into the world ; to lay up a little treasure in 
heaven ; for our treasure on earth will soon be 
out of use with us. Our coin will not pass in 
the country to which we are rapidly hastening. 

I cannot tell you much of myself, except 
that I am in health in the very midst of disease 
and death. I pursue my accustomed employ- 
ment, in the very spot where I wish to be em- 
ployed, and with as much success as I have any 
right to expect will ever attend my exertions. 
I have a flourishing school, of about forty 
scholars, at India Point, on Seekonk River. It 
is a spot that has long been abandoned, over- 
looked and forgotten. Whole families reside in 



HARRIET WARE. 



47 



this little neighborhood, within the sound of the 
church bells of this city, who seldom, if ever, 
saw the inside of a church ; within the sound 
of the school bells, where they might go and 
be taught free of expense, they are unable to 
read. Even mothers are here, who knew not 
the alphabet ; the children dirty and ragged, 
roving the streets, and taught nothing but to 
profane the name of the Being who made them. 
But it seems the Lord had designs of mercy 
towards them, for he has put it into the hearts 
of many of his children to pray and labor for 
them, and he has blessed effort in their behalf 
beyond what we dared to hope. A most strik- 
ing change is manifest in the general appear- 
ance of the place. The children, with very 
few exceptions, are dressed in clean clothes on 
the Sabbath morn, regularly attend Sabbath 
school and meeting, and behave with as much 
propriety as I have been accustomed to see chil- 
dren. Some heads of families, who never saw 
the inside of a church till this season, have 
hired seats, and attend meeting regularly ; oth- 
ers, who are unwilling to have it known that 
they go to meeting, will contrive to go in the 
evening, and place themselves where they can 
hear, and not be seen ; others appear to have 



48 MEMOIR OF 

been redeemed from the bondage of sin, and 
adopted into the family of Christ ; while some 
seem to have been given up to their own de- 
ceivings, and are apparently angry that the Lord 
is coming too near them. Among many other 
things which appear to have been owned of 
God, is the influence of my school. I mention 
this, my dear father, with humble gratitude, and 
wish you to be grateful too. It seems truly 
wonderful to me, that one so unworthy should 
be allowed the privilege of occupying a place 
that is of any importance to my fellow-beings. 
I do not now, nor do I ever wish to feel that I 
am doing much, but at least I am a happy spec- 
tator of what the Lord is doing for the honor of 
His own dear name. I have said, I am happy, 
and so I am, when I remember God will be 
glorified in all the works of His hands ; but 
when I remember, too, how many years I lived 
in entire disregard of the laws and authority of 
Him that made me ; turning a deaf ear to the 
melting invitations of a bleeding Saviour ; sport- 
ing with his dying agony, and trampling his 
blood under my feet ; grieving the Holy Spirit, 
by which I was sometimes admonished of death, 
judgment, and eternity ; and, to crown all, how 
very little I have exemplified the excellency of 



HARRIET WARE. 49 

religion by a holy life and well ordered conver- 
sation, since I professed to love the Saviour, and 
covenanted to give him my entire services ; and 
how much there is still, in my heart and life, 
that is not in conformity to the spirit of the 
Gospel ; I am constrained to exclaim, mentally. 
Wo is me ! wretch, indeed ! who shall deliver 
me from this body of death ! But, vile as I am, 
if my heart does not deceive me, I think I find 
increasing evidence of possessing some union of 
heart to Christ. I think I do find increasing 
pleasure in being permitted to perform the most 
humble service for him. I sometimes think I 
see that superlative excellence in his character, 
that, if my soul were worth ten thousand times 
as much as it is, I could most cheerfully give it 
to him, and rejoice that to Him, with the Fa- 
ther, belongeth dominion and power, forever. 
Moreover, I do hope I have a little of that peace 
which is promised to those whose minds are 
stayed on God. 

I did not think of writing all that I have 
when I commenced, but I have long felt a de- 
sire to leave a little testimony with you of my 
views and feelings, thinking that possibly, ah ! 
more than probably, if you should live a few 
months, that all you would ever know of me, 
4 



50 MEMOIR OF 

might be that the clods of India Point covered 
my worthless clay. Such has been, and still is, 
the state of things, that I realize, in some mea- 
sure, that I am living by the hour. I have not 
unfrequently left my school-room, under the 
impression that, perhaps, before another rising 
sun, a grave might be opened to receive me ; 
and, when I have entered my room in the 
morning, that, perhaps, I had met my smiling 
children for the last time. The dire judgment 
which has swept sixty millions of human beings 
from the Eastern continent, and seems destined 
to track the whole earth, has not prevailed ex- 
tensively here, but cases of cholera are occur- 
ring almost every day. 

I would gladly say much about many other 
things, and speak particularly of every member 
of the family, but my sheet is full ere I was 
aware of it. One word I would say to every 
one of them who has not a well grounded hope 
of eternal life, and that is — there is but one 
Saviour ; whoever rejects him, there remaineth 
for him no more sacrifice for sin ; there is but 
one Holy Spirit ; if that is rejected until it de- 
part, the soul can never be born again. 



HARRIET WARE. 51 

Providence, Oct. 11, 1832. 

I sincerely hope that you are where you 
are happy, and not entirely useless. Our object 
should be, not so much to live where roses spring 
up under our feet at every step, and thornless 
roses, too, as to be where Providence intends 
we should be, and try to be useful there. I do 
not occupy a very elevated stand, and know 
not that any one who is proud would covet my 
employment. But I hope I shall be thankful 
if my pride does not destroy me, and actually 
stand in the way of any good which might 
otherwise come through me to my fellow-beings. 

In the first place, I have the honor to teach 
school, for a class of people whom no other 
person ever had the honor of teaching much, 
except how to catch oysters and a few such 
things. Bat, before they can be taught, they 
must be collected, some from off the wharves, 
some out of sand banks, some out of the oyster 
shells ; not that I mean, however, that my chil- 
dren are oysters. This is not done once merely, 
but more or less every week. Sabbath morn- 
ings, if I can get upon the ground before my 
children are all gone a fishing, I can collect quite 
a number into the Sabbath school, by going 
to something like a dozen houses and a few 



52 MEMOIR OF 

wharves. This was more emphatically true the 
first part of the season than now, for I assure 
you there are some now who would not be 
hired to stay at home if their parents would 
allow them, and some of the parents would not 
allow them to be absent. Recently, I have 
taken a fancy to visit the grog-shops on Sunday 
mornings. You must not laugh at, or be angry 
with me, for by so doing the inmates go to 
meeting. Just now, I am making arrangements 
for an evening school, and to board myself, for 
the sake of saving expense, so as to be able to 
sustain my school through the winter. 

I have written thus to amuse you, but I will say, 
seriously, that I am in an interesting spot. The 
way was evidently prepared for an influence to 
be exerted here through the medium of a school. 
It has been my humble privilege to have charge 
of this school, and the Lord has greatly blessed 
every effort that has been made for their benefit. 
I do sincerely hope that some have been sav- 
ingly benefited. Some of the parents and chil- 
dren have indulged the hope that their sins are 
pardoned, and others are deeply serious. 

I have, during the past summer, realized that 
what I did here must be done quickly. Al- 
though I have no assurance of hope, I find it a 



HARRIET WARE. 53 

blessed thing to live in view of death. It has 
been peculiarly sweet to think that whatever 
may become of me at last, I may, if I choose, 
live for Christ while I live upon the earth ; and, 
though I have great occasion to be humbled in 
the dust that my heart is so often found wan- 
dering from God, yet I desire no other Master 
than Christ. I wish for no higher place than 
to sit at his feet. The words of John, when he 
said, " the latchet of whose shoes I am not wor- 
thy to unloose," have appeared unusually inter- 
esting to me. If my deceitful heart does not 
entirely deceive me, I do feel it a privilege, of 
which I am infinitely unworthy, to perform the 
least service for Him. 



Providence, Dec. 26, 1832. 
My Dear M. — * * * I hardly know 
whether to sum up the whole of myself and 
India Point, and just say we are one family, or 
to give you a little description of my residence, 
manner of life and the like. I suppose you 
have so long despaired of seeing me a house- 
keeper, that you will be quite astonished at the 
fact, that it is even so. Yes, my dear M., I 
am a housekeeper, with almost forty children, 



54 MEMOIR OF 

during the day, and twenty, yes, nearly thirty, 
every evening, except Saturday and Sunday 
evenings. I shall not inform you of my style 
of living ; you must come and see it. I have 
food that is good, and enough of it. I have no 
time to cook, but I have never been destitute of 
little rarities ready cooked. Necessity has driven 
me to this. I found it would be utterly impos- 
sible to keep school, days and evenings too, and 
go the distance I must to find board. My even- 
ing school is composed principally of adults, some 
of whom want nothing but an opportunity to be 
valuable people ; others are just what they are. 

At the time when I was upon the point of 
giving up my Sabbath school, for want of assist- 
ance, a stranger came in one Sabbath morn- 
ing, and seeing the state of things, was moved 
with compassion, and offered to do every thing 
in his power to assist. He has not only been 
punctual and efficient himself, but has obtained 
a sufficient number of excellent teachers from 
the college, and the school has taken a new 
character. In addition to that, as the cold 
season was approaching, every thing indicated 
that the school must be broken up for want of 
support. But, just at the turning point, and 
without solicitation, said one, Don't you wish 



HARRIET WARE. 55 

for a good stove ? I have one, and you shall 
be welcome to use it, as long as you have need 
of it. About the same time, another said he 
would be responsible for as much fuel as I 
wanted. Thus, the Unseen Hand has been 
stretched out for the support of this school, and 
it is now as flourishing as at any former period. 
Our meetings have taken a new character. In- 
stead of brethren meetings, we have the very 
best of sermons, and instead of three or four 
men and women, enough to half fill the room. 
I have obtained several long seats, and my room 
is filled so full there is no place for another, and 
the kitchen is also almost as full. There is not 
so much deep seriousness as there was last sum- 
mer, but far more general attention. 



Providence, Dec. 1, 1832. 
In consequence of a very severe snow storm, 
which confines me to the house, and company 
being out of my room, I have a few moments 
which are nearer at my disposal than any I can 
recollect for months. Of course, my thoughts 
naturally fix upon my dear A., her husband and 
children. I can already think of a thousand 
things I should love to know respecting them. 



56 MEMOIR OF 

But no one is near to answer my questions. 
Imagination pictures as much cheerfulness at 
your fireside as is profitable for you. And, let 
me add, that your friend Harriet's situation, 
probably, is as unlike yours as can be conceived, 
yet, perhaps, not in all respects, for she, too, is as 
cheerful as the birds of spring ; I mean generally. 

I hardly know with what to fill up this ; 
but, if you will endure it patiently, perhaps 
I will give you a little history of your friend 7, 
since leaving Hopkinton the last of March. 

I then came to this place by the request of 
my friend Esther, for the purpose of trying to 
establish a school at India Point. After I came, 
I named the object to several individuals on 
whose influence it seemed to depend. All, with 
one or two exceptions, said No. Said Mr. W., 
" Go back where you came from, and never 
name it again." Said another, "Do not think 
of it ; they are complete savages. A child of 
eight years of age would turn you out of the 
house." Said another, who seemed to be a 
ruling Elder ', " My dear, you must not attempt 
it. We cannot encourage or support you ; we 
do not think it respectable for any female 
to go there." But, after all, the school was 
established the last week in April, and my 



HARRIET WARE. 57 

school was soon filled with scholars. It was no 
small curiosity to see the variety. Some had 
been to school, and some had not. Some could 
read, and some could not. Some appeared 
pleased, and disposed to treat me civilly ; some 
declared they would knock my brains out ; but 
they have never done it. On the whole, it 
seemed a spot in the moral world, on which no 
dew, or rain, or life-giving rays, had ever fallen. 
But it seemed there was a soil, and the Lord 
had prepared it to receive seed. In the estab- 
lishment of the school, the interpositions of 
Providence seemed peculiarly striking, and al- 
most every step of its progress has been marked 
by a certain something which seems to be 
understood by all, even the wicked and profane, 
to mean — the Lord hath done this. From the 
commencement of this school to the present 
time, I believe India Point has had a place in 
many hearts who love to pray. True, there 
have been times when it seemed that all was 
fast sinking ; yet many tongues and hearts and 
hands have moved in its behalf; and moved, 
too, at just such times and under such circum- 
stances, as distinctly said, the Lord moved them. 
I must mention some particulars, as speci- 
mens of very many others. In the first place, 



58 



MEMOIR OF 



it was proposed to have a Sabbath school in con- 
nection with the day school. The gentleman 
who assisted in organizing the school happen- 
ed to be, of all other men, the most suitable 
for the work. He could excite a deep inter- 
est when most other men might have as well 
been asleep. Another thing ; when the chol- 
era was expected daily, all said it would come 
to India Point first, because it was thought 
that the wickedness and filth here was enough 
to engender it, if it had never before been in 
the world. But not so. When the whole city 
was in commotion, the inhabitants flying like 
leaves in a whirlwind, many day schools dis- 
missed or deserted, Sabbath schools distracted, 
teachers and children having fled before the 
destroying angel, India Point was so poor it 
could not move. Neither did I receive any 
direct commission to flee to the mountains. Of 
course, my school moved on without interrup- 
tion. No cholera came near it ; but the Spirit 
of the living God came very near, and, I would 
humbly hope, some brands were plucked from 
the burning. Perhaps I will tell you more of 
this before I get through. I must mention one 
circumstance more. As the cold season was 
approaching, every thing indicated that I must 



HARRIET WARE. 59 

close my school. I had received but a bare 
support ; I could make no greater personal sacri- 
fice than I had made, and there seemed no 
where to look for resources sufficient to sustain 
it, with the additional expense of fuel and stove. 
Besides, I found it impossible to obtain assist- 
ance in the Sabbath school ; those who had 
been willing to assist had become weary. 
Sometimes, after spending most of the Saturday 
in trying to obtain help, I would go on Sabbath 
morning, as has been my practice, to every 
house and wharf on the Point, to collect my 
children into school, and then find myself the 
only teacher, with perhaps forty scholars, divided 
into six or seven classes. Just at this crisis, I 
went into my school-room one morning, and 
found two gentlemen who were entire strangers 
to me. They knew as little of me, as I of 
them. They appeared to know nothing of the 
school, only that it was at India Point. No one 
had invited them to call. They, however, 
assisted me, and the next day one called again. 
After inquiring into some circumstances in con- 
nection with the school, he asked if I was 
willing to stay through the winter ; being an- 
swered in the affirmative, he said, " Then give 
yourself no uneasiness about the support of the 



60 



MEMOIR OF 



school ; I will be responsible for it." Thus far, 
he has proved that he meant what he said. 

And now, do not laugh. Your friend H. is 
keeping house, teaching day school as usual, 
and an evening school four evenings in a week. 
My evening school is made up of the last mate- 
rials that are necessary to finish the creation. 
Some sailors and their wives, some young men 
who cannot, or rather could not, read even the 
alphabet, others who cannot write, and some who 
are studying arithmetic. Most of them work in 
the ship-yard, or catch oysters. The number 
of scholars is eighteen. My room is perfumed 
with a compound of oyster mud, coal and tar, 
(which forms the crust of their faces, hands and 
clothes,) rosin, tobacco and gin. But so it is. 
They are willing to be taught, and I am willing 
they should be. I am neither afraid or ashamed 
to teach them. I do not know that any thing 
good will result from it. But be it so. I have 
the satisfaction of knowing that four evenings 
in a week, from six to eight o'clock, they are 
neither quarrelling, gambling, blaspheming the 
name of the Being who made them, nor drinking j 
and this is reward and encouragement enough. 

By this time you need something to make 
you smile. Well, here it is, a description of 



HARRIET WARE. 61 

Harriet with her house-keeping apparatus. My 
school-room is a lower room on the street, 
conveniently fitted for school, seats, writing- 
desks, &c, stove to warm the room, a closet for 
books, and wood, &c. My household furniture 
consists of an old pine table, one leaf of which 
I can spread, the other is lame ; a water pail, 
tin cup, a furnace, and tin lamp with the japan 
off, two tea-cups and saucers : one tea-cup I use 
for sugar, and one saucer I use for butter plate ; 
two knives and one fork, one tea-spoon, one 
table ditto. I cannot finish this inventory ; it 
would be tedious ; you can guess at the rest. 
I have one very small room beside my school- 
room, which contains my clothes, bed, band- 
boxes, and a few movable writing benches, with 
a small closet which holds all my stores. Just 
let me say here, that my food is good, and I 
mean it shall be, for my fatigue would soon 
wear me out, if it was not. There are three 
families in the house, beside myself and the 
forty children, in the day time. Two of these 
families contain two distinct families each, 
which would make five families beside my 
own. In the room adjoining mine, there is 
almost a constant stream of profanity and fault- 
finding, that is, except when they are in the 



62 



MEMOIR OF 



evening school. I have often left the house at 
night, because I was afraid murder would be 
committed before morning. But that family 
has moved. Say you. Why do you live so? 
Come and see me, and I will tell you. Say 
you, Why do you call a school together in such 
a bedlam ? I answer, It is the best, indeed the 
only place, where a school can be called to- 
gether at all. But, say you, No good can come 
under such circumstances. I tell you, good has 
come. A whole neighborhood of children, who, 
eight months' since, could not read, and seemed 
to know only how to profane God's name and 
quarrel, strolling the streets on the Sabbath, 
looking more like swine than children, have 
learned to read their Bibles, are more still and 
civil than the generality of children in the city. 
They do not now use profane language, but are 
dressed cleanly, and attend Sabbath school and 
meeting. In some instances, intemperate parents, 
who knew no peace, no order, no Sabbath, have 
become temperate, industrious, orderly, peacea- 
ble, and, I humbly hope, pious. 

But, say you, Has your wonderful school done 
all this ? I answer, No, none of it compara- 
tively. It has been just this, and no more. It 
has found favor in the eyes of the people ; of 



HARRIET WARE. 63 

course their children have been drawn into it, 
and learned to read ; and, I do not say it has 
had no influence upon the morals of the chil- 
dren, for it has. It has opened a room, where 
Christians can come together and pray and hold 
religious meetings ; and by going to the people 
and persuading them, they have frequently been 
induced to come in and hear, if for no other 
reason than to get rid of whoever went after 
them. If you had been a mouse in some of the 
India Point gin-shops, on Sabbath mornings, 
you might have received a call from one of 
Dr. Emmons's people (trained to his nice habits 
of thinking, that females must regard propriety,) 
insisting on the inmates going to meeting. 
And still more would you be astonished to 
know that any success had attended such man- 
agement as this. But, strange as it may seem, 
it is true. In my opinion, th|s is the very place 
where such effort is the only thing that can 
reach them. But how one of Dr. E.'s people 
ever came to be sent to such a place no body 
can tell, unless it was to make her willing to 
bend a little. We have preaching here once a 
week. I will only add, that good influences, 
from various sources, are now exerted in this 
neighborhood, and they are felt. I believe the 



64 MEMOIR OF 

Spirit of God has been here ; and the result of 
it is, the woman with whom I lodge has in- 
dulged a hope, and last month united with the 
church. Three more (one a member of my 
school) are candidates for admission to the 
church. Others give evidence of piety. Some 
others are anxious. My dear friend, it has not 
very unfrequently, during the past summer, been 
my privilege to attend my own dear children to 
the inquiry meetings. I should love to tell you 
a great deal of the deeply interesting state of 
things which is existing here, but I have taken 
all my paper, and filled it with what I am afraid 
will make you despise me. Do forgive me for 
writing and sending such a worthless thing as 
this. Do write, not because this deserves an 
answer, but because I wish to hear from you. 
Yours most affectionately, 

Harriet Ware. 



Providence, Jan. 17, 1833. 
* * * * I do my own work, and have 
a day and evening school. One evening in the 
week there is preaching in my room. On 
Saturdays, I generally make calls on the fami- 
lies in the place, besides other calls of business ; 



HARRIET WARE. 65 

and, on Saturday evenings, my room is the 
resort of all the boys who are disposed to come. 
Some come to prepare Sabbath school lessons, 
others to be amused in any way I can think of. 
This being their leisure evening, they would 
otherwise be particularly exposed to temptation. 
Sunday mornings, I rise very early, and, with all 
my diligence, cannot more than have myself and 
my room prepared by nine o'clock, when teach- 
ers and children assemble for Sabbath school. 
I attend church twice, and sometimes go in the 
evening, but should never go in the evening 
except for the sake of others. One hour of the 
intermission on Sunday noons, is spent in read- 
ing to those who wish to hear. Now, can you 
tell me where my leisure time is ? 

Do not think, dear friends, that I am driven 
to this sad dilemma against my will. It is my 
choice, and the pleasure of my life so to live. Sin- 
cerely do I hope that I shall never be much more 
at leisure. I should really enjoy telling you how 
signal have been the interpositions of Provi- 
dence in behalf of this school. I will only say 
that my school is daily increasing in interest ; 
and. the causes which lead to this result are 
such as can be ascribed to no human wisdom 
or forethought. Every thing is now in train 
5 



66 MEMOIR OF 

for a good school-house, and some other things 
are in progress which it seems may facilitate 
effort. But, after all, I am by no means anxious 
for those appearances of permanency, which 
might lead one almost to trust in them. Hith- 
erto, dependence, entire dependence and exertion, 
has marked the way. 

I must not forget to say, that four from this 
little spot have recently made a profession, and 
others indulge a hope ; and, for months, there 
has not been a time when some were not inquir- 
ing on the subject of religion. This is the Lord's 
doing, and is truly marvellous in the eyes of all 
who have known any thing of this place. 

July 22, 1835. 
Never did the privilege of providing homes 
for little wretched children appear so valuable, as 
since I thought it was a fixed case, that I could 
not get away from here. I have often thought 
that, with or without a support, I will never 
again complain of fatigue or perplexity, as long 
as one neglected child remains in these streets 
that I can benefit by removing. 



HARRIET WARE. 67 

Providence, Nov. 19, 1833. 

My Dear Friends — I would have you make 
much of a little from your old friend Harriet, 
even if that little should happen to be good for 
nothing ; for you must know it is no common 
occurrence for me to write to a friend. I love 
them, when I can get time to think of them, as 
well as ever ; but I have scarcely written a let- 
ter since I wrote to you last year, except when 
positive necessity has compelled me. I know 
I have all the time there is, but it does not seem 
half enough for all I have to do. I often think 
I should love to have you come and see just 
how I live, and how others live around me ; not 
that I think it would be very flattering to my 
vanity, but I used to think you good for counsel. 

As you do not often hear from me, I be- 
lieve I shall begin just where I closed my last 
letter. I was then keeping house for the sake 
of sustaining a day and evening school. I con- 
tinued these during the winter, with no other 
interruption than an occasional drunken revel, 
which would break up the school. Three or 
four times, in one week, my scholars were dis- 
persed by the cry of murder in the house. And 
once, in the dead of night, your friend Harriet, 
with all her courage, escaped from her bed with 



68 MEMOIR OF 

her teeth chattering in her head with fear, and 
ran after the watch in her night clothes. But 
nobody was killed ; and after going away a few 
days, until my nerves were quieted a little, I 
went back to school. The last of May I broke 
up house-keeping, and commenced boarding in 
one of the families on the Point, consisting only 
of a man and his wife. In just one week after 
I commenced boarding with them, the man died 
of delirium tremens. Never can I forget the 
horrors of that scene. I will not attempt a de- 
scription, and may you never witness any thing 
similar to it. I will just say, that I never came 
as near imagining what is meant by the threat- 
enings denounced in the Bible against the 
wicked. I have since continued with his 
widow. She is still, neat, and remarkably kind 
and clever. She is one who did not know her 
letters when I came here. She is very little 
company for me, and there is no other family 
in the house. This is as I wish to have it. I 
have no time to enjoy society, and I wish for 
no temptations of the kind. Was I placed in a 
family, where I valued the society at all, it would 
be like placing a hungry person in sight of food 
which he might not taste. During last winter, 
there was just enough of excitement to keep me 



HARRIET WARE. 69 

from knowing that I was ever fatigued. But 
when spring came, I found that every part of 
my system, physical and mental, was completely 
worn out. But my opportunity for rest was 
nothing better than the care of between seventy 
and eighty of the most ungovernable spirits that 
ever were. My little India Pointers I thought 
rather curious at first, but they could not hold 
a comparison to those who came in from off the 
Point. I suppose I became somewhat popular 
for managing unruly boys ; of course, if there 
was one that nobody else would have in school, 
he was sure to be picked up and sent to me. 
Boys of this stamp, being sent in one after ano- 
ther, keep things in motion. I sometimes think 
of applying to the city authority for a tax to be 
paid to the school, for it is certainly convenient 
to have a depot for every vile thing that can be 
picked up in the south part of the city. What 
should you think of such a plan ? 

But, to return to myself, and say some pleasant 
things. A vacation of three weeks in September, 
has quite restored my health and spirits ; so that 
I have engaged to commence a colored evening 
school next week, half a mile from my day 
school. When I wrote you last year, I was 
keeping school in a private house ; since that, 



70 MEMOIR OF 

Mr. Nicholas Brown has given a large school- 
house, and Mr. Thayer has moved it upon the 
Point. The Sabbath school is well sustained by- 
teachers of the first order from college. And 
many other pleasant things I could mention. 
But, after all, either from unbelief or the sober 
dictates of my own judgment, I have some 
misgivings. Every thing that was novel in the 
beginning has passed away. The workers of 
iniquity have become familiar with my presence. 
They are a people of no fixed principle, and the 
whole weight of influence that can be exerted, 
must be brought to bear upon feeling. Go and 
say the most solemn things to them, and many 
of them will feel every word, and while that 
feeling lasts they will act. Those too, who, 
we really hope, have passed from death unto 
life, seem destitute of decided principle. While 
they "walk in the Spirit, they bring forth the 
fruits of the Spirit," but the moment good feel- 
ing declines, they have nothing to keep up the 
deception a moment. They will act directly in 
the face of the plainest commands of the Bible, 
and enjoy religion too. The children, while in 
school, seem to understand something about 
moral restraints ; but the moment they are out 
of school, they are under the improper influence 



HARRIET WARE. 71 

of vicious parents, or idlers in the streets, who, 
in many instances, stand watching for them the 
moment they leave the house. I sometimes 
feel almost discouraged, yet I believe it wrong 
to indulge one feeling of the kind, farther than 
this. I may not, after all, act on the best plan 
for accomplishing good. I have not half as 
good an opinion of myself or my own judgment 
as I had one year ago. And then, again, I have 
found by experience, that I am just that human 
being that cannot bear much success. I know, 
in some instances, I have felt proud of the fine 
things that / have accomplished. But some- 
thing must be done to save these dear children. 
But I must not close without saying that I 
enjoy many privileges, good preaching, and 
attend two Bible classes. 



72 MEMOIR OF 



CHAPTER III. 



It was stated, at the commencement of the 
last chapter, that Miss Ware, during the latter 
part of her residence at India Point, had been 
quite successful in finding places in the country 
for the children under her care. This, in the 
end, became the most important part of her 
undertaking. The obstacles, however, which 
impeded her progress, in this form of benevo- 
lence, were many and serious. Her plans were 
frequently thwarted by the parents themselves, 
who sometimes recalled their children from the 
most desirable situations. Besides, she felt it 
important, in order to procure for her pupils a 
home in religious families, that they should 
have some better preparatory training than could 
be acquired in their present circumstances. 
Added to this was the fact, that India Point had 
been selected as the terminus of the Boston and 



HARRIET WARE. 73 

« 

Providence railroad ; and this would, from ne- 
cessity, change the whole character of the neigh- 
borhood, and oblige her to remove her school to 
some other locality. 

These facts seemed to indicate to Miss Ware 
the necessity of an entire change of her arrange- 
ments. She must soon leave India Point. 
Should she leave the city, or commence the 
same labor again in some other of its suburbs ? 
Should she determine upon the latter course, 
she would be beset by the same obstacles, and 
find her most promising plans defeated by the 
perversity of parents. What she longed and 
prayed for was, some home where she could 
gather the children around her, separate them 
from corrupt associates, train them for useful- 
ness, cultivate their moral nature, and then 
place them in situations where they might grow 
up in habits of usefulness. 

On this subject, she, at sundry times, con- 
versed with me. I could not but become deeply 
interested in her views. Here was a woman 
admirably qualified for the task, whose most 
earnest desire it was to devote her life to the 
work of rescuing orphan children, and children 
frequently more unfortunate than orphans, from 
almost certain destruction, and transforming 



74 MEMOIR OF 

i 

them into valuable members of society. She 
would have scorned a remuneration had it been 
offered her. All she wanted was, to do the 
good at any personal sacrifice. The mere 
opportunity of thus being useful to these friend- 
less little ones, was, I truly believe, vastly more 
attractive to her than the most brilliant situation 
of which the mind can conceive. 

It seemed to me that Divine Providence must 
smile on efforts dictated by a spirit so eminently 
Christian and self-sacrificing ; and that, at any 
rate, the design was not to be abandoned with- 
out an effort. It happened that I was at that 
time engaged in the instruction of a Bible class 
of ladies, of various denominations of Christians, 
in Providence. I requested Miss Ware to attend 
the next meeting ; and, at the close of the exer- 
cises, I stated the facts, and requested her to 
add such explanations as she saw fit. The per- 
sons present entered warmly into the plan, and 
with a cheerfulness of benevolence characteristic 
of the ladies of Providence, several of them at 
once volunteered to solicit subscriptions in behalf 
of the object. In a few days, between five and 
six hundred dollars were collected. This was 
abundantly sufficient for the present purpose, 
which was ojily to give the experiment a fair 



HARRIET WARE. 75 

trial. A small house was rented, and furnished 
in the cheapest manner, and the effort was thus 
commenced. A society was formed, and ladies 
of the most suitable character, from various 
denominations, were willing to superintend the 
management of the institution. Thus com- 
menced the " Providence Children's Friend So- 
ciety." 

The house was soon filled to overflowing. 
Another, and more commodious house, was soon 
rented. The institution became known through- 
out the city, and its merits were duly appre- 
ciated. It was seen that Miss Ware possessed 
a remarkable talent for conducting such an 
establishment. To her rare capacity for in- 
structing the young and of improving their 
moral nature, she added a skill in practical 
economy, by which every dollar was made to 
do all the good that a dollar could do. It was 
scarcely possible to conceive how so large a 
family could be supported at so small an ex- 
pense. Yet, there was in this economy nothing 
approaching to penuriousness. She was one of 
the most generous persons I have ever known. 
Her children were all well fed and clothed ; 
they were in high health, happy and joyous. 
The secret was, that she allowed nothing to be 



76 MEMOIR OF 

wasted. Nothing was ever thrown away, while 
it could be put to any use, and she was pe- 
culiarly ingenious in finding a use for every 
thing. The children all loved her as a mother, 
and she felt for them more than a common 
parental affection. 

When the second house was found inadequate 
to the purposes of the establishment, it was 
determined by some benevolent ladies and gen- 
tlemen to purchase a site where it could be per- 
manently accommodated. A convenient house, 
with ample grounds, in a very pleasant part 
of the city, was bought by subscription, and 
presented to the society. Thither Miss Ware 
removed in the year 1836, and there she con- 
tinued until her death. 

Though the number of the children under 
her care was increased, and the means at her 
disposal enlarged, yet there was no change 
whatever in her management of the institution. 
She was able to receive now about fifty, and 
the liberality of the citizens of Providence 
always supplied her with whatever she needed 
for their support. Still, however, the same rig- 
orous economy was observed, and the same self- 
denial put in practice ; the same vigilant care 
watched over every friendless child, whether in 



HARRIET WARE. 77 

health or sickness ; and if there happened to be 
one peculiarly destitute and feeble, requiring her 
attention by day and by night, that one was 
sure to be especially beloved. The idea of 
labor, or fatigue, or discomfort, never seemed to 
enter her thoughts, if she was only relieving 
distress, or ministering to the welfare of these 
little orphans. In almost every one, she could 
discover some traits of peculiar interest, and if, 
perchance, any one of them seemed more than 
commonly perverse, the conviction, that if she 
gave him up he must go to inevitable destruc- 
tion, led her to cling to him with a pertinacity 
that seemed to her friends almost inexplicable. 
The fact was, she had so often succeeded in 
reclaiming children of the most unpromising 
character, that she seemed to believe nothing 
was impossible, if the motives of the Gospel 
were kindly and perseveringly addressed to the 
conscience. Her success in such cases fre- 
quently astonished her friends, and testified 
that, even in such cases, she commonly judged 
wisely. The result has been, that by her ex- 
ertions an institution for orphan children has 
been established in this city, of a most interest- 
ing character ; that it has ever held a high place 
in the esteem of our citizens, and promises long 



78 MEMOIR OF 

to disseminate the richest blessings among the 
orphan children of our community. 

If it be asked, What was the secret of this 
success ? how was it, that a young woman, 
almost wholly unknown, and wholly destitute 
of means, should have been enabled to accom- 
plish so great an amount of good ? I think the 
answer is obvious. She acted on principles 
peculiar to the Gospel of Christ. She was, in 
the first place, sincerely and earnestly desirous 
to do good ; and, to accomplish this purpose, 
was willing to make any personal sacrifice. In 
the next place, she put this desire into practice, 
by engaging in the first benevolent labor that 
was placed before her. She did not wait until 
something precisely in harmony with her intel- 
lectual tastes or social affections should present 
itself, but undertook the first work that her Mas- 
ter placed before her. Nay, she herself, rather 
chose the humblest and most self-denying la- 
bor, as that which would best promote her 
spiritual interests, and bear to her own bosom 
the most abiding conviction that she was labor- 
ing for God. In the next place, she commenced 
the labor herself, and was the pioneer of the 
whole undertaking. Instead of going about 
to secure aid and encouragement before she 



HARRIET WARE. 79 

began, she began first, and trusted that aid and 
support would come as they were needed. As 
soon as she commenced upon these principles, 
the providence of God sent her assistants in 
abundance. Every one saw that she was wil- 
ling to labor herself, and do every thing in her 
power before she called for aid, and that the 
aid required was not for her, but for the cause* 
Every one was thus pleased with the opportu- 
nity of being associated with her. We all love 
to cooperate with an honest and earnest laborer, 
who is able to go alone ; while we all draw 
back from associating with a doer of good, 
who, full of good intentions, and desirous of 
leading in a worthy enterprise, must always be 
fed by other men's hands, and be carried on 
other men's shoulders. Miss Ware was emi- 
nently a self-relying woman. She would have 
scorned to impose upon another one half of the 
labor or responsibility which she imposed upon 
herself. When a sacrifice was to be made, she 
instinctively and quietly made it herself. Her 
example was contagious. The same spirit was 
communicated to those associated with her ; 
and thus, all making sacrifices for the cause, the 
cause of necessity prospered, and, in the end, 
she prospered with it. 



80 MEMOIR OF 

In the next place, she was emphatically a 
woman of faith. By this I do not of course 
mean merely a believer in Christ, but some- 
thing more. She received, as I have before 
remarked, the promises of the Gospel as the 
assurances of a kind and ever watchful Parent, 
on which she might rely in every time of need. 
She obeyed literally the command, "Be ye care- 
ful for nothing, but, in every thing, by prayer 
and supplication, make your wants known unto 
God/' Conscious that she was doing not her 
own work, but the work of God, that her mo- 
tive was not to please herself, but to please 
Him, she felt that she might rely with confi- 
dence upon Him under every circumstance into 
which the path of duty might conduct her. 
Hence she commenced and prosecuted, and ter- 
minated her designs in prayer. From God she 
sought counsel in deciding what she should 
undertake, how she should undertake and pros- 
ecute it, and to Him alone she ascribed all the 
praise of its success. When she needed aid, 
she applied to God before she applied to man, 
and very frequently she found that the former 
application rendered the latter unnecessary ; for, 
either while she was yet speaking the answer 
was received, or else, the hearts of her friends 



HARRIET WARE. 81 

were so directed, that she had only to mention 
the subject, and the needful aid was afforded. 
She did not often mention such things, lest she 
should seem to boast of her piety, which she 
above all things abhorred ; yet, it was evident 
from the whole tenor of her conversation, that 
her memory was filled with them. Many of 
these instances she had I believe recorded, as 
an encouragement to others, when, from the 
fear that it might be otherwise interpreted, she 
committed the manuscript to the flames. 

In the year 1845, or perhaps the year pre- 
ceding, the first symptoms appeared of that 
malady which at last proved fatal. Her mother 
had died of cancer, and she seems to have in- 
herited a tendency to the same disorder. In 
the hope of arresting its progress, and thus ena- 
bling herself to devote a little more of life to 
her orphans, she submitted to two surgical ope- 
rations, but without ultimate success. It was 
while absent from home for medical treatment, 
that several of the letters in the present chapter 
were written. They exhibit in a clear light 
the strongly marked elements of her character, 
and show, that, under all circumstances, the 
Lord was her support and her salvation. 

The disease at last became seated in the 
6 



82 MEMOIR OF 

internal viscera, where it was beyond the reach 
of human aid. She at first dreaded the intense 
pain to which patients in this complaint are fre- 
quently subjected. In this respect, however, 
her prayer was heard, and her suffering was far 
less than she had feared. She had but little 
pain, strictly so called, but a sort of indescri- 
bable nervous restlessness, that was at times 
almost intolerable. The pain she considered to 
be controlled by homoeopathic remedies ; while 
the restlessness was greatly relieved by the use 
of cold water. " When I find this restlessness 
coming on," said she, "I dip a sheet in cold 
water, wrap myself in it, and lie down and 
sleep like an infant. I always keep a bowl of 
water at my bedside for this purpose. 77 

It was during this gradual decline of her 
strength, that most of the following letters 
were written. She was enabled to take short 
excursions during the summer, and also inquire 
by letter concerning the welfare of her orphans. 
But, as her strength failed, she confined her 
efforts to the house, assisting in every labor to 
which her physical power was competent. It 
was a sore trial to her to feel that she could do 
nothing more, but this trial was not imposed 
upon her until a few days before her death. I 



HARRIET WARE. 83 

have, however, prolonged this introductory 
notice of a chapter far beyond my intention, 
and it is time to bring it to a close. 



Wells, August 26, 1845. 

I know not whether you have kept any track 
of your old friend, but I shall venture to conclude 
you have not, and give you a brief history of my- 
self for the last fifteen or sixteen years, when, as 
near as I can remember, I wrote you from Hop- 
kinton, where I was then teaching school. 

In the spring of 1832, I received a letter 
from a friend in Providence, describing the sit- 
uation of a destitute and degraded neighbor- 
hood in the south part of the city, where the 
parents, grandparents and children, with but 
few exceptions, could not read, and had never 
received religious instruction. She thought 
that if a school could be established there, good 
might be done, and had no doubt but the 
" School and Tract Society " would render 
needed assistance. It struck me at once as 
being the place for me, as I had always wished 
that I was fit to be, if nothing more, "a drawer 
of water" among the heathen; but ever felt 



84 



MEMOIR OF 



that I was neither worth sending nor going by 
myself. Accordingly, about the middle of 
April, I left Hopkinton and went to Providence. 
But when I came to consult those whose appro- 
bation I thought necessary, I found the object 
was too unpopular to meet with an encouraging 
word, except from one Christian woman. Of 
course I must go to work on my own responsi- 
bility, or not at all. I succeeded in obtaining a 
room in a house occupied by three miserable 
drunken families, the only one I could find, and 
the first week in May commenced my school. 
Mr. Phillips, the Baptist minister, nearest to the 
school, and the Sabbath School agent, treated 
me with kindness and attention. Most others re- 
garded me as little less degraded than the neigh- 
borhood where I had chosen to fix my habita- 
tion. My school prospered, a Sabbath school 
was organized the first Sabbath, but nobody 
would assist in teaching, till after two months 
had passed away, the wife of the president, and 
of one of the professors in college, called on me. 
Mrs. W., when she left, put some money into 
my hands, saying her husband wished to see 
me for something in particular, and wished I 
would call ; I did so soon after, and was received 
with the greatest kindness, and an offer of 



HARRIET WARE. 85 

assistance in any way I might require. From 
that time I was liberally supplied with teachers 
from the college ; of course the current was turn- 
ed, and popularity was the enerriy to be feared. 
God, however, in great mercy, poured out His 
spirit, and some, I have still great reason to 
hope, were adopted into the family of Christ. 

The next winter, I had an evening school, 
attended by men and women, some of whom 
were more than fifty years of age, who learn- 
ed to read and write. It has interested me 
exceedingly to learn, that three years ago in a 
revival, many heads of families, who learned 
the alphabet at that school, were converted, and 
now read the Bible in their families. There 
was much that was interesting, during the 
three years I remained there, which I now 
record in memory, as belonging to the most 
eventful period of my life. I very soon became 
convinced that where children were exposed 
to the very worst influence from vile and 
drunken parents at home, but little could be 
done in school to train them to become good 
and industrious citizens ; and succeeded in per- 
suading most of the parents to let their children 
go to good places in the country. But, as the 
parents retained a legal right to recall their 



86 MEMOIR OF 

children, they would often do it. Other efforts 
made in various ways and by various societies, 
for the benefit of the children of the poor and 
vile, were found to fail of securing fixed habits 
of industry, and an influence favorable to their 
present and future good. While at India Point, 
for there was the eventful spot, I often found my- 
self rearing my Babylon of straw, which would 
always be in the form of a great house, where I 
was living with poor children, entirely indepen- 
dent of their vile parents. Little did I then think, 
when roused from my reveries, what God in his 
wise and merciful Providence was preparing. 

Some time in the summer of 1835, I ven- 
tured to talk with Dr. W. about the obstacles 
in the way of accomplishing much towards 
making good citizens of the class of children 
for whom so much had been done. It seemed 
that his own mind had been dwelling on the 
same subject, and at once the plan was projected 
of something like an asylum for unprotected 
children. It was soon named to a few others, 
and when presented to the public, it seemed 
that the public mind was prepared to hail it. 
Dr. W. named it to a Bible class of ladies, under 
his care, and they volunteered to make collec- 
tions sufficient to warrant a beginning by way 



HARRIET WARE. 87 

of experiment. Between five and six hundred 
dollars were raised, and the first Tuesday in 
October, several ladies met together, formed a 
society, and adopted a constitution previously 
drawn up, by the name of the Providence 
Children's Friend's Society. The first day of 
November I commenced house-keeping, with 
one little boy, in a small tenement for which 
we paid but fifty dollars rent. This was com- 
menced simply as an experiment : and, notwith- 
standing my sanguine temperament, I rather 
expected it would fail than succeed. I will 
not enter into detail, but suffice it to say, we 
were able to add to our tenement in the spring, 
so that we paid eighty dollars ; yet before the 
close of the year, our family increased so, that 
we were obliged to spread six beds on the floor 
at night, for want of room to set up bedsteads. 
The next November we moved into a larger 
house with thirty-four children. Towards the 
close of that year, a large 3 convenient house, 
with gardens and sufficient play-ground, was 
purchased in the west part of the city. The 
location is elevated and healthy, and the pros- 
pect of almost the whole city delightful. 

Our tenth year is almost completed, and as we 
look back upon all the way which our God has 



88 MEMOIR OF 

led us, we can but exclaim with joy and grati- 
tude, surely goodness and mercy have followed 
us every step of the way. You will not infer 
that we have had no trials, that no clouds have 
gathered over us, thick and dark, threatening 
to destroy us. Oh, no ! God has been too 
merciful to allow us to be ruined with pros- 
perity. But I believe He has given us as much 
success as we could possibly bear. Our bread 
and our water has not failed, and never for a 
moment have I believed that He who feeds the 
ravens, has ever sent us a child to be starved. 
We have never known the want of kind and 
efficient friends, whose sympathy and counsel 
has been exceedingly valuable. For three years 
previous to this, our family of children has 
averaged forty-seven. About ninety who have 
been legally adopted into the family, are now 
provided with good homes, and are learning to 
earn their living, or rather are earning it. About 
half that number have also been thus provided 
for, who were never adopted into the family. 
The present prospects of these children are 
generally as good as those of the children of 
our most respectable citizens. 

One more circumstance that has contributed 
much to my essential happiness, is, that a friend 



HARRIET WARE. 89 

that I loved very much, and who had contri- 
buted much to my help and comfort at India 
Point, called on me the first day I commenced 
house-keeping, without intending to remain, 
but has never yet left me. She has proved an 
invaluable assistant to me ; I think I love her 
more than I ever loved any other being of earth. 
Thus you see God has richly provided employ- 
ment, comfortable support, and probably more 
enjoyment than I could have had in almost any 
other situation. 

You recollect, my dear C, something of my 
uniform good health. Up to the present time I 
have enjoyed an usual share of that blessing. 
The first five years in our family, I was obliged 
to keep myself so constantly fatigued for the 
want of suitable help, that I suffered much for 
the time being ; but when I was not obliged to 
labor so hard, found my constitution unimpaired. 
My general health is now good, but for three 
years past I have suffered from a local disease, 
similar to my mother's, and am now under a 
course of treatment for it. * * * * 

I will close this long letter with acknowledg- 
ing the great goodness of my God and Saviour 
towards me as a sinner — I hope a renewed 
sinner. You know I have long professed to 



90 



MEMOIR OF 



be a disciple of Christ. I can now look back 
over the twenty-four years since I united with 
the church, and see many green spots, where I 
have been brought to feel that I knew some- 
thing of the import of perfect peace, but have 
generally felt that my religion was rather spe- 
culative and intellectual, than spiritual. I have 
always loved the doctrine of a universal and 
particular Providence ; and in a multitude of 
dark and trying circumstances incident to my 
peculiar situation, I have rejoiced that I could 
stand upon the immovable rock, and say, 
" Thou, O God, doest it, therefore I should be 
dumb, and open not my mouth." Yet much 
of the time, I have been worldly in my affec- 
tions. The fact is, I have not had enough of 
Christ in my religion, to keep it warm and 
active. But let me say to the praise of free, 
rich, sovereign grace, that the blessed Saviour 
has, for a few years past, been gradually leading 
me to a better acquaintance with himself. I 
think I am not deceived in believing that I 
know something of his precious love. I would 
love to tell you that I have found sustaining 
efficacy, in view of suffering and death, in the 
precious name of Christ my Saviour. Yes, 
precious name, God, Man, Mediator, but I can- 
not write more now. 



HARRIET WARE. 91 

Providence, August 26, 1842. 
I want to tell you, but I cannot, how infi- 
nitely good God has been to me. I should 
love to tell you how exceedingly precious Christ 
has appeared to me. I have always believed in 
Him as having died for sin eighteen hundred 
years ago, and gone away into heaven ; and 
sometimes have rejoiced in him as an Interces- 
sor at the right hand of the Father. But this 
is not the blessedness of knowing him as a 
present Saviour. I dare not say much, but if 
I am not deceived, I have been enabled to pray 
that you and myself, with all the redeemed, may 
have the daily experience of the fifteenth chapter 
of John. You will smile, I suppose, if I quote 

from Mr. , but he one day said to me that 

there were three baptisms ; first, being baptized 
unto Moses in the cloud ; next, John's baptism 
unto repentance ; and lastly, there was such a 
thing as being baptized unto Christ. I have 
certainly had the first, I believe the second, and 
I do now desire, at least, to be baptized into the 
fullness of Christ. Dear M., take hold of the 
strength of the omnipotent Saviour. Rejoice 
exceedingly, that you may consecrate your 
entire being to Him who died for us, that from 
henceforth we should not live unto ourselves. 



92 



MEMOIR OF 



Salem, April 4, 1845. 
I think I love to feel that all is perfectly 
understood by Him, who sees the end from 
the beginning. I know most assuredly, and if 
I am not deceived, I rejoice in the assurance, 
that the holy, wise and good purposes of God 
correspond in perfect exactness with his provi- 
dential dealings with me. The hair and the 
sparrow in my affairs will not be regarded with 
indifference by my Father God. O ! the con- 
descension of our heavenly Father. Let those 
who will, sweep the purposes of God and his 
universal providence from, — from what ? — 
from their creeds and their hearts ; for from 
the immutable, unerring Word, they cannot. It 
there stands out in bold relief, a link in the 
golden chain, a precious link, which, if re- 
moved, would leave us but a broken fragment. 
Dear Miss G. ? I have had leisure to think, and I 
love to think of that beautiful, perfect system 
of truth and doctrine revealed in the Bible, all 
profitable for our instruction in righteousness. 
I think that system is comprised in our articles 
of faith. A beautiful and perfect whole, who 
shall dare to lay his hand upon it, to mutilate 
or deform it ? A brother called on me, just 
before I left, and asked "If I dared to stand 



HARRIET WARE. 93 

alone against so many, in whose wisdom and 
piety I had so much confidence ? " Yes, unhes- 
itatingly, yes ! I would stand alone against 
ten thousand better than myself, and in that 
thing I would be stronger than the whole of 
them. 



Salem, April 30, 1845. 
Your welcome, doubly welcome letter was 
received yesterday, while at brother E. : s. I 
would have answered it the same hour if I 
could. I did not think you would write till 
John was away, and I hardly wished you to, 
for I could feel no interest in any thing else, 
neither could I feel any interest in writing even 
to you, for I could think best in connection 
with him. O, I feel so happy, that I cannot 
keep from holding, as you say, for gratitude. 
How delightful to think, that that same Being, 
who has from time to time melted his obduracy 
and warmed his heart with tender and generous 
affections, and especially who so signally mani- 
fested his goodness in every circumstance con- 
nected with his leaving us, has his heart in his 
hand, and can, and I believe will, bring him to 



94 MEMOIR OF 

himself. We shall, of course, have very many 
anxious hours about him, but we will not forget 
who holds the winds in his fist, and says to the 
stormy billows, peace, be still. My dear E., 
you will, won't you, speak a word for the good- 
ness of God in view of his kind providence ? 

Could the whole concern be put into my 
hands or yours, I think I would not be willing. 
I do feel I am in the best of hands. The doc- 
trine of a universal Providence was never more 
precious to me than now. I only want to be 
more humble, more penitent, more broken- 
hearted, that I may more and more see the 
transcendent excellence, beauty and glory of 
Christ, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the 
sins of the world. I hope I have some present 
evidence of loving him as God, man, mediator, 
as prophet, priest and king ; but know and feel 
that my spiritual vision is greatly blinded by 
reason of sin. It is matter of almost constant 
wonder, that the patience of infinite forbearance 
itself has not become exhausted. Surely the 
mercy of God in Christ is infinite — infinite 
love, love that loved us while enemies. I know 
our time for writing, or talking, or making our 
own calling and election sure, will soon be over. 
Let us improve the present. 



HARRIET WARE. 95 

May . — You will probably receive this 

on board-meeting day. Remember me very 
affectionately to every member present. Tell 
them I appreciate all their kindness, and love 
to feel that they will have patience with my 
long absence. I feel that I am away from 
home , but my thoughts of home, and those 
who, for so many years, have done so much to 
render it a pleasant home, are among my sweet- 
est thoughts of earth. 

May 30. — I can never think of staying away 
from home so long ; the thought of it will keep 
me homesick all the time. I don't know what 
to do. I am afraid if I should decide upon 
such a long campaign, that I should be out of 
patience myself, and think, after all, I had been 
foolish ; and then what should I do, if the 
board should get out of patience ? I can't expect 
them to wait forever ; and certainly I should 
much rather my life should be shortened than 
protracted, if I am not to think of that dear 
spot, with all its loved associations as home. I 
know I am just now very much under the 
impulse of feeling, and it rather seems to me I 
don't feel quite right. I have thought I was 
following the leadings of Providence, and was 



96 



MEMOIR OF 



in the way of my duty, and that I was willing, 
and should love to put a blank into the hand of 
my Father in heaven, for him to fill, just as his 
oivn wisdom (not mine) and goodness should 
direct. But really this does not look much like 
it. I know if I commit my way to the Lord, 
my goings will be established. I know that, by 
creation and preservation, I belong to God as 
his rightful property, and if he has made me his 
by regeneration and adoption, why should I set 
up for myself? The Lord humble and forgive 
me for my distrust, impatience, and above all, 
ingratitude. If the Lord hath further need of 
me, with you, my dearest E., in that long loved 
and cherished home, in the midst of those I 
love, yes, I can truly say, the objects of my 
warmest affections, he will certainly return me 
to the spot, at the very moment I am needed ; 
and if he gives me the signal, very gladly will I 
make haste. 

June 7. — Now about my coming home. It 
seems to me that I was nearer right in my cal- 
culations than the doctor, for I think I can see 
an improvement since I came from Boston last 
week ; but I guess the secret, after all, is to be 
willing, I mean more than just willing, that 



HARRIET WARE. 97 

God should make his own appointments, instead 
of our making them for him. Let us rather 
pray, that God would not withdraw his hand 
until this dispensation of providence has had 
the effect which it ought, and will have, if 
rightly improved, upon both of us. The Lord 
preserve me from ever thinking again (as I 
have often been tempted to do) that he hath use 
of me. If a desire to be useful has any thing 
to do with my strong desire to be at home, 
let it satisfy me that God chooses I should 
do my duty in the place and circumstances 
in which he sees best to keep me, and I am 
satisfied this ought to be very much with my 
own heart. The prayer of David, I believe, 
ought to be mine. " Search me and know my 
heart ; " that is, cause me to know it. " Cleanse 
thou me from secret faults." God has some- 
times given me great freedom in praying for 
you and our loved ones at home ; especially our 
older children, and the girls in particular. If I 
might constantly feel to plead with God in 
prayer and faith, I should think it well worth 
while to be kept tied up for some time longer. 

June 14. — Certainly we have continued proof 
of the kind interposition of Providence in be- 
7 



98 MEMOIR OF 

half of our family, as well as ourselves. God 
does watch over us for good, and we should be 
most ungrateful not to acknowledge it, not in 
in words only, but in heart and life. 

Sunday Evening. — I can hardly refrain from 
adding a few lines to this sheet this evening. 
Heard Mr. Worcester preach this morning from 
the text, " Every heart knoweth its own bitter- 
ness," &c. ; a sermon probably occasioned by 
the death of a young lady in his parish. I 
have seldom realized as vividly the sundering 
of the dearest and sweetest ties of earth ; and 
the thought, that so many that I love with the 
warmest affection, are giving no evidence of a 
preparation for heaven, seems completely over- 
whelming. 

Dearest E., do not your thoughts dwell with 
delightful interest upon the surpassing tender- 
ness of a Saviour's love ? Think of the height 
and depth, and length and breadth, of the love 
of Christ ! O no, we cannot begin to think ; 
but, dear E., we can see, that if our sins were 
a thousand to one, and our hearts a thousand 
times more hard and proud and obstinate than 
they are, it would not, all combined, form the 
fraction of an obstacle in the way of going with 



HARRIET WARE. 99 

all to Christ, to be humbled, subdued, melted 
and made white, fitted for the exalted service 
of God and the Lamb. 

I suppose about this time our dear children 
are singing their evening hymn. I would give 
more to hear them sing their hymns that they 
usually sing on Sabbath eve, than all the music 
I have ever heard or ever shall in S. I have 
thought, in connection with their singing and 
other things, of dear little Margaret. Have the 
children sung her hymn to-day ? I seem to 
know she sings it now, "in sweeter notes than 
angels use." If you are not here next Sabbath, 
let me feel that at half past six o'clock, P. M. 
our children will sing Margaret's hymn. 



Salem, July 28. 
I hope you have not been anxious about me 
on account of a little delay. I know you are 
too anxious, and wish you would try to remem- 
ber that you and I, with all we most dearly 
love, are just as much the objects of the kind 
care of our Heavenly Father, as if he had none 
but us to care for. 



100 MEMOIR OF 

Salem, May 5, 1845. 

And now let me say a word, which I wish 
may become one pleasant subject of our daily 
thoughts, and that it may have its proper influ- 
ence over the remnant of our lives. It is that 
we both familiarize ourselves with the subject 
of death. Not of death in general, but of our 
individual separation from this world, and en- 
trance into another. We both well know this 
subject can be cheerful, only as we look at it 
in connection with Christ, God, Man, Mediator. 

I am a miracle of wonder to myself. I won- 
der how I can see all this, (as I seem to see it, 
through a glass, very darkly indeed,) and not 
feel my whole soul on fire. Yet this is so far 
from being the case, that I fear exceedingly lest 
I should become as worldly as ever. I need an 
overcoming, abiding faith in Christ, and with- 
out it I know I can do nothing. I think my 
hold on life is greatly loosened, if not broken. 

I desire that we both may be very thankful 
for these gentle, yet emphatic warnings, of what 
at farthest cannot be far from me. Surely I can- 
not be taken by surprise, without criminal for- 
getfulness on my own part. Dearest, shall we 
not learn to contemplate death as our friend and 
restorer, and not as an enemy to be feared ? 



HARRIET WARE. 101 

Salem, August 3, 1845. 
It will be board-meeting Tuesday. Give my 
best love to the ladies of the board ; I shall 
think of them at that hour, and if they have a 
petition to offer for me, be it that I maybe more 
like Christ. It has been among my sweetest 
thoughts, that my God and Saviour was truly 
man. That he, not only as God, knew our 
frailty and infirmities, but, as man, has known 
them by experience. There is sustaining effi- 
cacy in full belief that the Saviour sympathizes 
with us in our deepest sufferings ; that he is 
touched with the feelings of our infirmities, as 
nothing short of infinite tenderness and love, 
united with experience, could do. Infinite in- 
deed is that love, that would stoop from the 
highest throne in heaven, and, for the sake of 
vile creatures like us, take upon himself a body 
like ours, and after enduring every variety of 
suffering, offer it, once for all, a sacrifice for our 
sins, that God might be just, and the justifier 
of him that believeth in Jesus. 



Wells, Sept. 1, 1845. 
Think of the amazing sacrifice of leaving 
his throne, being born of a woman, in a man- 



102 MEMOIR OF 

ger, a human body, and rational soul, heir to 
every variety of physical and mental suffer- 
ing, in his whole life fulfilling the perfect law of 
love to God and man, ever doing good to the 
souls and bodies of men, sympathizing with the 
afflicted, so gentle and kind that even little 
children were not afraid to approach him. O, 
what infinite condescension ! He knew our 
ignorance, weakness, and blindness, and how 
difficult it is, in our fallen state, to form right 
conceptions of the great God ; and therefore, in 
our own form and nature, he manifested the per- 
fect mind and spirit of Him, who says He is 
Love. And all this was but a prelude to his 
dying agony, and dying prayer. And then 
think of both the promise and fulfilment of the 
spirit, to all who would ask for its influences. 
This kind and gentle spirit does take the things 
of Christ, and show them to all who will see 
Jesus. And now the merciful assurance, that 
he not only lives a merciful High Priest, to 
sympathize with the afflicted, support the weak 
and trembling, and succor the tempted, but is an 
all-prevalent Intercessor for all who will commit 
t heir cause to him. 



HARRIET WARE. 103 

Wells, Sept. 5, 1845. 

My Dear Friend — How much I love you, 
and thank you too, for your generosity and 
kindness, bestowed upon a poor, worthless, in- 
efficient friend, sinful, liable to change, and who 
at best, may and will drop out of your sight at 
any moment when this same God and Saviour. 
whom you neglect, shall speak the word. The 
same kind of affection and confidence you be- 
stow upon one so unworthy, just transfer to 
Him, and all will be well. You will not love 
me the less, nor I you. What you say of his 
being beyond the utmost stretch of your dark 

vision, is all right. But, dear , you must 

neither be afraid to sit humbly at his feet, or 
lie quietly in his arms. If you can't see, he 
can, and that is enough. Just trust yourself 
to him, and you have nothing to fear. I have 
just read a beautiful sentiment in Phillips's 
"Love of the Spirit," viz. " That the spirit 
does not testify of itself, nor of you, but of 
Christ." 

Your kind advice for me to remain, might 
tempt me, but I want to be at home too much 
to be tempted even by that. And then I do not 
need farther quiet to restore health, for I think 
it is restored : not but what I think I have 



104 MEMOIR OF 

been deceived about my strength, and I now 
think Monday would have been a little too 
soon ; but next Monday will be exactly right. 
And then, again, what do you think the Lord 
has been so signally gracious to me, both physi- 
cally, socially, and spiritually, for ? Is it to be 
set up for all my friends to pay tribute to, that 
I may enjoy myself; or to come, or rather go to 
my long loved and cherished home, to live with 
you and the dear children whom I love as my 
own life ? 

And now, a word for dear little M. I am 
afraid, if it is not all over with her now, it will 
be before I get home. Do you tell her any thing 
about the Saviour, and how she must give her- 
self to him, and how he will love to receive 
and bless her, and make her happy if she will ? 

Dear little R , I love her for the associa- 
tions ; but how thankful should we be that 
she is removed beyond the reach of the chilling 
blasts of this cold world, or any of the debasing 
influences of earth. 

I am more and more satisfied, I am certain, 
that there is a meaning in the promises of God, 
and Christ, in the assurances of his love and 
faithfulness, that we shall find has indeed been 
but poorly expressed, even in the language of 



HARRIET WARE. 105 

the Bible, and more poorly understood, and yet 
more poorly believed and trusted. It is not 
so strange, that we should be tempted to doubt 
whether we can be loved by a Being of infinite 
purity ; and it would seem that to meet those 
reasonable doubts, he has not only multiplied 
assurances to an almost infinite extent, but has 
given pledges and earnests, as though he would 
not require credit to be given to simple testi- 
mony of truth itself. Strange that He should 
love us, but infinitely stranger that we do not 
love Him, though our own souls should sink to 
ruin as we deserve. Truly it is said, God is love. 
O, I seem to know, I am not mistaken in this, 
that " while we were yet sinners, Christ died 
for us." 

" Amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond degree." 



Providence, Feb. 7, 1846. 
It is my candid opinion that I am henceforth 
to regard myself as a minute man, liable to be 
called for at a very short notice. Dear M., I 
cannot write as would be natural to a loved one, 
without being much overcome, my nerves are 
so weak. But we will be thankful that I can 



106 



MEMOIR OF 



think, and talk and write with calmness and 
pleasure, of a beautiful city but just before 
us j " that hath foundations, whose builder and 
maker is God," our God, in whom we confi- 
dently trust. I have never felt as much elated 
as some of whom I have read and heard, but 
thanks, everlasting thanks, to free, rich, sove- 
reign grace, that I have enjoyed a calm, steady 
peace, an unshaken confidence in the perfec- 
tions of God. I have been able to contemplate 
with delightful interest, that system of old- 
fashioned doctrines, to which we used to listen 
in our younger years, and they seem to flow as 
naturally from the perfections of God, as water 
from a spring. 

On this point, let me ever be understood as 
placing Christ where divine sovereignty used 
to be placed in our early instructions. I love to 
look back upon this pleasant world, with which 
I thought I had done. At no hour of my life 
did I ever more fully believe than now, that 
" the whole earth is full of thy glory." I love 
my long-loved friend, — in short, I love to live ; 
and if one's sympathies and interests are with 
Christ, I know not why an angel might not 
covet the facilities that are every where pre- 
sented for doing good. 



HARRIET WARE. 107 

Westerly, Nov. 26, 1846. 

On this thanksgiving morning, I hardly know- 
how to enjoy being separated from my own 
dear home. So wonderful has been the good- 
ness of God towards us as a family, and towards 
me in particular, the past year, that in the midst 
of our family group, I would most love to 
acknowledge our obligation of gratitude, and 
devotion of heart and life to the God that made 
us and the Saviour that redeemed us. Three 
that we loved, and who shared in this last 
annual festival with us, are now entered upon 
their unchanging state, and with the dear babe 
we so tenderly loved, are very distinctly in my 
mind and heart. I cannot save myself the 
query, Who will be among the missing at our 
next thanksgiving ? How very desirable that 
we should all feel the importance of being in 
preparation ourselves, and doing all we can, 
that others should be prepared to join in the 
unceasing song of praise to the Lamb that was 
slain, that we might live. I wonder not half as 
much at the stupidity of all the world beside, as 
at my own wordly spirit. When shall I learn 
to " overcome the world ? " 

I find my old friends a little scattered, and 
am certainly humbled at the deep feeling they 



108 



MEMOIR OF 



manifest. They say they never expected to see 
me again, and seem to feel that all who were 
ever my friends or pupils, will feel grieved and 
wounded, if I do not, at least, give them the 
opportunity to come where I may be found. 
Nobody seems to expect that I shall take much 
trouble to go anywhere, but they will go any- 
where to see me. I, of course, feel that this 
is my last visit, and if I leave Hopkinton next 
week, I shall do well. 



The first of the following notices of Miss 
Ware's last illness, has been furnished by a lady 
who had been for many years her constant asso- 
ciate and intimate friend ; and the second by 
Amos C. Barstow, Esq., who saw her frequently 
during her illness : 

The dangerous illness with which Miss Ware 
was afflicted, two years previous to her decease, 
had impressed her with the abiding conviction, 
that death could not be far from her. She was, 
from that period, constantly preparing for a sum- 
mons to that world in which she had laid up 
such rich treasures. She considered the pro- 
longing of her life, after that critical period, as 



HARRIET WARE. 109 

an answer to prayer. She had, at that time, an 
anxious desire to live to see the accomplishment 
of a cherished plan in regard to the institution, 
in whose interests her whole heart had entered. 
The building was too contracted and inconve- 
nient, for the well-being of the large family it 
was required to contain. To have it enlarged, 
with ample accommodations for bathing, and a 
convenient school-room, was her earnest desire. 
A generous public readily acceded to it, and it 
had scarcely been completed, ere its noble- 
minded projector was again confined to her 
own apartment, which she never left, till she 
was removed from it to the repose of the grave. 
The last time she met with the family, was 
on a Sabbath afternoon, seven weeks previous 
to her decease. It was her custom, at that time, 
to give the children instruction on religious sub- 
jects. They had been studying the Assembly's 
Catechism, and the topic of consideration that 
day was the doctrine of election, one peculiarly 
precious to her. She gave a simple explanation 
of it to the little group, and then, with great 
tenderness and earnestness, addressed the older 
ones, urging them now to make their " calling 
and election sure." It was a most solemn and 
precious season, although we did not anticipate 



110 MEMOIR OF 

it would be the last time we thus should meet. 
She did not suffer much pain until the last days 
of her life. Her mind was clear and active till 
the close. She requested to have her grave 
clothes purchased, and sent for a person to come 
and sit in her room while they were made. 
Every arrangement for the interests of the 
family, that it was in her power to make, was 
calmly and intelligently imparted to the ladies 
of the board who saw her. She had so per- 
fectly prepared for her anticipated decease, that 
she seemed in these last weeks of her life to 
have but little to do, but patiently await the 
event. When asked if she had no counsels to 
give to the older members of the family, she 
replied, " I believe I have said all that I could 
to them." 

She had but one anxiety to disturb her perfect 
peace of mind, and that was, the provision of a 
home for the little girl she had adopted, and 
when a letter arrived from a beloved friend, 
assenting to her request to receive her into her 
family, she seemed to feel that every wish was 
gratified. Her constant theme was the good- 
ness of God ; God had been so good to her in 
permitting her to see all her plans completed, 
was the constantly recurring thought. 



HARRIET WARE. Ill 

She had suffered ranch anxiety in relation to 
the form her disease might assume, lest she 
should become repulsive to her friends ; and on 
finding that it was to be wholly of an internal 
character, such was the relief to her mind, that 
her gratitude for the kindness of her Heavenly 
Father, in thus dissipating her fears, seemed 
unbounded. It was manifested in every word, 
in every look. It did indeed seem as if her 
every prayer was answered. The 14th, loth, 
and 16th chapters of John, were the favorite 
portions of Scripture which she often wished to 
hear when she was too feeble to peruse them 
herself. 

The last day was one of much suffering ; she 
frequently wished to be moved, but forbore 
manifesting the desire, for fear of injuring her 
friends by receiving their aid in lifting her. 
Her thoughts were, as ever, of others more than 
of herself. 

I cannot venture, however, to give any farther 
account of the last hours of my friend, although 
every moment of them is indelibly engraved on 
my memory. There are others, who I doubt 
not will give a faithful record of them. My 
last interview with Miss Ware was but a few 
days before her death. I found her in a state 



112 MEMOIR OF 

of great bodily weakness. She was sitting in 
an arm-chair, in a reclining posture, which was 
about the only one which the nature of her 
maladies would allow her to take. 

All who ever made her acquaintance, were 
doubtless more or less impressed with the 
thought, that she was a remarkable woman; 
but here, peculiarly, in this " chamber where 
she met her fate," all who were admitted were 
deeply impressed with the fact, that she was a 
remarkable Christian. Her intimate friends did 
not need the testimony of that strong and abid- 
ing faith in God, which was drawn from her 
closing hours. She had borne this testimony 
amid life's busiest scenes, and in its most active 
duties. But if the evidence before seemed full 
and satisfactory, now, to me, it seemed complete, 
overwhelming. She was about to enter the 
" dark valley." The grave stood open before 
her, and the vesture, in which she was to enter 
it, was all prepared. 

She spoke to me " of the decease which she 
should accomplish," with the greatest compo- 
sure and resignation. " I feel," said she, " that 
my work on earth is done. I have been brought 
very low under the power of disease before this, 
but never before could I feel that my hour had 



HARRIET WARE. 113 

come. There was always some object to be 
accomplished, which lay near my heart, and 
seemed to demand my efforts. But now I feel 
that all my work is done. God has been very 
kind, to spare me until every earthly wish and 
desire is satisfied. This house was formerly 
too strait for us, and I longed for just such an 
enlargement as has recently been made. Now, 
it is just as I would have it, commodious, com- 
fortable, convenient. Then again, I am at 
home, surrounded by the dear objects of my 
affection, and enabled to give them my parting 
counsels, and blessing." 

Here she enlarged upon several matters per- 
taining to the family, with much satisfaction. 
She spoke, also, of the Zion of God on earth, 
and her relations thereto ; naming several mat- 
ters, in reference to which she had felt a strong 
concern, which now seemed settled just as she 
could desire. In fact there was no earthly 
thing, on which she had of late set her heart, 
but w^hat God had allowed her to live to 
see accomplished. She knew not why it w^as. 
She was an unprofitable servant, and deserved 
not the least favor, and yet her cup of blessing 
was filled to the brim. Then turning her eyes, 
now glistening with deep emotion, toward 
8 



114 MEMOIR OF 

heaven, she blessed the worthy name of Jesus, 
for whose sake, and through whose blood, she 
had become a partaker of these blessings. 

Never did I see her so calm and serene, never 
so heavenly and sublime. Under similar cir- 
cumstances, with most Christians, it might have 
been my duty to soothe, cheer, strengthen or 
comfort the soul in this hour of trial. But with 
her nothing like this was needed. I seemed as 
in some heavenly presence, and could only sit 
and listen to the low and gentle, yet distinct 
breathings of a soul already pinioned for the 
skies. Her mind was remarkably clear, and the 
facility with which she turned from one subject 
to another, until she had finished all that she 
had to say to me, (and it seemed as much as her 
exhausted nature would allow,) was wonderful. 
Her friendly counsels to myself in regard to 
personal piety, enforced by her own reflections 
upon her own past life, while now in full view 
of death, I trust will never be forgotten. I 
listened, wondered and admired. Truly " the 
chamber where the good man meets his fate, is 
privileged above the common walks of virtuous 
life, near to the gates of heaven." I prayed 
with her, and rising to depart, took her emaci- 
ated hand in mine. As I gazed for the last time 



HARRIET WARE. 115 

on that strikingly intelligent and benevolent 
countenance, now irradiated with beams from a 
better world, my emotions choked the utterance 
of a last farewell, and I turned away, desiring 
that my last end might be like hers. 



I am happy at the close of this brief memoir, 
to introduce the following letter from Amos 
Perry, Esq., the highly esteemed principal of 
one of the grammar schools of this city. Mr. 
Perry residing in the vicinity of the house of 
the Children's Friend Society, and being deeply 
interested in the welfare of the institution, was 
often able, by his counsel and influence, to ren- 
der important aid to Miss Ware and her asso- 
ciates. During the latter part of her life, 
especially, he saw her very frequently, and, at 
the request of some of the members of the 
board, has kindly consented to furnish the 
following interesting communication. 

Providence, Feb. 28, 1849. 
Dear Sir — I take pleasure in giving you 
my view of Miss Ware's character, and in 
stating such anecdotes and incidents within my 
knowledge, as may serve to illustrate it. 



116 MEMOIR OF 

I received from Miss Ware, in familiar con- 
versation, at different times, detached accounts 
of her early days. They are instructive, as in- 
dicating the way in which her character was 
formed. Her parents were Puritanic in their 
habits, and modes of thought and action. They 
exercised a strict and watchful discipline over 
their children. Luxury and effeminacy met 
with poor encouragement within their door. 
Industry, economy, sobriety and order, were 
fostered with religious care. Their children 
had the benefit of the district school as it then 
was, taught three months in the summer by 
a female, and three in the winter by a male 
teacher. 

The germs of the future Harriet Ware were 
at an early day visible. The girl showed the 
woman she aspired to be. She entered with a 
generous enthusiasm into whatever engaged her 
attention, whether study, work or play. Her 
character was of natural growth. Her devel- 
opments were regular and progressive. She 
formed habits, and adopted principles, whose 
influence and power were more fully exhibited 
in her later years. She taxed her ingenuity, 
and, by the exercise of patience and persever- 
ance, prepared herself to overcome obstacles 



HARRIET WARE. 117 

and rise above discouragements. The great 
secret of her success in life, if secret it may be 
called, was her reserved energy. She aimed to 
put herself in readiness to meet any emergency. 
Instead of slumbering till the bridegroom came, 
she laid in store her oil, and could not be taken 
by surprise. Endowed with solid, rather than 
brilliant powers, she could not make satisfactory 
improvement, while attending school, without 
continued and earnest effort. This effort she 
put forth at the regular hours of study, and 
when all nature was hushed in repose. At 
twelve and one o'clock at night, Harriet might 
frequently be seen stealthily poring over her 
lessons by the dim light of a pine bough or 
of birch bark, which she had laid aside for this 
purpose. 

I have heard her repeatedly express her grati- 
tude for the restraints and wholesome influences 
of the home and the school. For these insti- 
tutions she ever cherished the most sacred 
regard. In them she learned those lessons of 
submission and quiet duty, which made her 
submission to God and divine truth the more 
easy and natural. Her various home and school 
studies and exercises, helped to prepare her for 
the sublimer studies and exercises of the spiritual 



118 MEMOIR OF 

kingdom. Looking upon the divine works, ena- 
bled her to look with the more interest and 
pleasure upon the divine hand and character. 
God was revealed to her awe-struck soul in all 
his majesty, power, and goodness. She who 
had before viewed herself chiefly in her rela- 
tions to her parents, teachers, and friends, saw 
herself related to a higher Parent, a higher 
Teacher, and a higher Friend. She bowed in 
submission, and sought instruction at the heav- 
enly throne. Like Mary of old, she sat at the 
feet of Jesus, and learned of him. Prayer was 
the attitude of her soul, and Christ was her 
song. Though not called, like Samuel, to a 
peculiar, ceremonial service, she received at 
one period of her life (I believe at this), an 
indefinite, indescribable impression that she had 
a peculiar mission to perform. She understood 
not what this mission was. It might be to carry 
the Gospel to heathen lands. She cherished 
this feeling as a premonition of her destiny, and 
it was not without influence on her life. She 
had, however, a definite aim, which was to be 
useful. When her way was plain, she earnestly 
pressed forward in it, and when it was dark, 
she still moved on, trusting to the leadings of 
God's providence. 



HARRIET WARE. 119 

An anecdote will here serve to illustrate the 
practical character and tact which she early ex- 
hibited, and for which she was in later times 
distinguished. The human hand then per- 
formed much labor which is now committed to 
the. machine. Harriet threw the shuttle, and 
wove as expeditiously as the most skilful, while 
her sisters, for whose habits of industry she felt 
the utmost solicitude, rolled the bobbins. While 
engaged in this employment, she would often 
perform an extraordinary amount of labor to 
bring out the desired effort on their part. 

Some years passed by, and Harriet, at an 
early age, became the teacher of a district 
school. Here her varied powers found ample 
room for exercise. She strove to improve alike 
herself and her pupils. She entered upon her 
duties with the same genial, resolute spirit, 
irtfhich characterized all her undertakings. Find- 
ing in her school a number of large boys, 
whose attainments in arithmetic were quite 
equal to her own, she applied herself with 
great assiduity and perseverance to study. She 
sought not only to solve every problem in ad- 
vance of her pupils, but to understand and be 
able to explain the way in which she arrived 
at her results, and the reason for each succes- 



120 



MEMOIR OF 



sive step in her process. Her success in teach- 
ing arithmetic was signal ; and in all her duties 
as teacher, she earned and acquired a reputation 
which is oftener desired than deserved. She 
cultivated the intellects of her pupils, without 
neglecting their moral characters. She % in- 
structed them in the rudiments of learning, 
and at the same time brought to bear on their 
hearts and lives all the elevating influences at 
her command. She breathed into them a spirit 
and energy, and conferred upon them benefits, 
which they are not backward now in acknow- 
ledging. 

Being a dutiful child, Miss Ware regarded 
as intimately connected with being a dutiful 
scholar ; and being a good scholar, as a step 
towards becoming a good teacher ; and being a 
good teacher, as an important preparation for 
the other duties and responsibilities of life. 
This is a condensed view of Miss Ware's life. 
She made the discharge of each duty a prepa- 
ration for another. This was a fixed plan of 
life with her. This was her idea of Christian 
philosophy. She attributed all her success, 
such as it was, to the power of the principles 
and truths which she embraced and maintained, 
and which, in their turn, embraced and sus- 



HARRIET WARE. 121 

tained her. Thus, in an important light, she 
considered herself an instrument in God's hands, 
which, she allowed, had wrought some good. 
" But to God belongs the praise ; for he has 
given me my life, and been my sun and shield. 
I have but walked by His strength, in the path 
which He has pointed out. The Lord reigns. 
Blessed be the name of the Lord." Such was 
her prevailing spirit and tone of feeling. She 
dwelt with peculiar pleasure and with rapturous 
delight on the sovereignty of God. The words 
of the Psalmist often served her as a medium of 
expression. 

Love of truth was, I think, a prominent trait 
in her character. She sought the truth and la- 
bored for its promotion, because she loved it, 
and had faith in its power and efficacy. Truth 
was in her mind not only the antithesis of error, 
but the cure and preventive of evil. It was 
God's instrument, by which to effect good. 
Without it, man is in worse than midnight dark- 
ness. With it, heaven and earth are radiant 
with beauty and loveliness. He who has truth 
will exhibit its power in his life. It will root 
out evil affections, and destroy the strong-holds 
of Satan. It will bring back peace and good 
will among men. It will make man at one with 



122 



MEMOIR OF 



himself. This was her view of God's inspired, 
all-inspiring truth, and where she saw not these 
results, she did not believe that the truth 
existed, or she believed that it was held in 
unrighteousness. She looked for branches on 
the sound and vigorous trunk, and for fruit on 
the thrifty branches. 

Lying, was her detestation. A thief she 
could pity or despise ; but a liar was almost 
beneath her contempt. Numerous were her 
ways of playing off her troublesome humor and 
pleasantry on those people, who, by dint of 
lying and equivocation, overreached her in 
trade. They must be called into her house the 
next time they came along, and be seated where 
she could give them special attention. And 
there she kept them, (though they were always 
in a hurry,) and hectored them, and goaded 
them with her keen satire, provoking irony, and 
touching appeals to their honor and conscience, 
until they were moved by despair, shame, or 
some higher impulse, to acknowledge their fal- 
sity, and promise amendment in their conduct. 
They usually earned all the advantage they 
gained over her by unfair dealing. They had 
to endure the humiliation and mortification of 
seeing their own little and belittling spirit and 



HARRIET WARE. 



123 






action brought into striking contrast with her 
elevated sentiment and dignified bearing. 

Her manner of deliberating and of arriving at 
definite decisions, on important questions, may 
serve as an index to her character. She was 
in the habit of proposing such questions as 
these, — " Is it true ? Is it right ? Is it duty ? " 
She conversed freely with those around her, 
who might throw light on her mind, and then 
she reserved her final decision for a season of 
prayer and communion with God. After this, 
all was over. Nothing could move her purpose. 
Her simple reply to all objections offered, and 
obstacles pointed out, was, " The Lord has de- 
cided, and He is wiser than man. This thing 
can be do?ie, and it shall" When she spoke 
thus, her friends learned to forbear alike per- 
suasion or entreaty. This habit of looking up 
for light and truth through her higher senti- 
ments, rather than down through the mists and 
shades of earth, became a settled habit and 
principle of her life. She was in this way ena- 
bled to correct some errors of judgment which 
are apt to arise from a partial or unfair view of 
things. Her atmosphere was purer, and her 
mental vision altogether strengthened. 

Her candor was in keeping with her love of 



124 



MEMOIR OF 



truth. " Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom 
is no guile," may seem strong language to apply- 
to her, but the truth will bear it. If she thought 
that no good thing could come out of Nazareth, 
she would not hesitate to say it ; and, when 
convinced to the contrary, she would with the 
same frankness acknowledge her mistake. 

Her charity towards those who differed from 
her in opinion, increased in a striking manner 
with her years. I have conversed with her 
many times on this subject, and am satisfied 
that she gave diligence to possess herself of that 
virtue, which is the crown of Christian virtues, 
and without which, all other attainments are 
nothing worth. She rose far above the spirit 
of bigotry and intolerance, and stood on a high 
point of observation. Her view of religious 
truth was greatly enlarged. She saw clear 
above and beyond the partition walls of party 
or sect, and made the adoption of no peculiarity 
in her creed or mode of thought, a final test of 
any man's Christianity. She hailed light even 
from dark Nazareth, and honored goodness even 
in a despised Samaritan ; and she gave the 
stamp of her disapprobation against vileness and 
dishonesty alike in Jew or Gentile. While she 
held to the last her own peculiar views, distinct 



HARRIET WARE. 125 

and fixed, she expressed herself as decidedly 
benefitted by intercourse with people of differ- 
ent views and opinions, who manifested the 
spirit and power of Christ. She freely accorded 
to others the same privileges which she claimed 
for herself, and received light with the same 
eagerness with which she imparted it. Her 
spirit was liberal and ennobling, and had much 
to do with the success of her measures in estab- 
lishing the " Children's Friend Society," and 
with the confidence which she enjoyed in our 
community. May her mantle of charity rest 
largely on her successors and their associates in 
philanthropic effort. 

Miss Ware possessed a large amount of good 
common sense, and loved the true and useful 
more than the showy and ornamental. All 
extravagance in language, dress or expense, was 
displeasing to her, though she was painfully 
conscious of her own tendency to commit im- 
proprieties in the first of these ways. Her 
strong emotions tended to call up corresponding 
expressions ; and the effort she put forth to 
correct this, often made her expression appear 
somewhat stiff and measured. She heartily 
disliked all cant and frothy speech in the pulpit 
or out of it ; at conference meetings or in private 



126 



MEMOIR OF 



conversation. She detected at a glance the 
ridiculous aspect of things, and generously 
apologized for weakness that could not be 
helped. People who betrayed their shallow- 
ness by sounding their own trumpet, did not 
always escape her sarcasm and irony. She 
had no fancy for a religion or philanthropy, 
whose only manifestation was in words. She 
looked for the kingdom of God not in words 
merely, but in power. She had no taste for 
mere sentimental talk, and could not be caught 
by wordy display. She prized words only as 
they were related to things and actions. The 
following language may seem to indicate an 
extreme tendency, but the symmetry of her 
character was not marred." " Would you think, 
said she once humorously to a friend, " that I 
ever enjoyed Hervey's Meditations ? I did read 
in it once with enthusiastic interest, but I soon 
laid it aside, and could never read in it again, 
and I have taken many such short turns in my 
life." 

Miss Ware's taste and disposition, strongly 
inclined her to the walks and enjoyments of 
private life. She acted in a public capacity 
only from a sense of duty. Wordly honor and 
renown had few attractions for her. One inci- 



HARRIET WARE. 127 

dent may, in some degree, illustrate this remark. 
Some year or two before her death, a gentleman, 
who had been confidentially made acquainted 
with the % main circumstances and incidents in 
her life, took them, and, with various colorings 
and fillings in, wove a tale for general reading 
among children. This was published by the 
American Sunday School Union, and sold by 
their various agencies throughout the country. 
So that, to use Miss Ware's own phrase, she 
became, without her own consent or knowledge, 
a kind of common stock for the country, with- 
out even a share in her own copyright. Her 
first intimation of the fact was in a letter from 
a friend, rallying her on her good fortune in 
being able to read her own life. She sought 
the book and found it, even as described. The 
names introduced into the tale were somewhat 
changed or abridged. The characters and inci- 
dents were substantially correct, but they were 
just enough colored and dressed over to spoil 
their truthfulness. Miss Ware's mortification 
was extreme. She felt that this treatment was 
cruel. She could better endure, she said, to 
be mobbed, than be thus unceremoniously 
dragged before the public and converted into 
property. She could wipe off stains which 



12S MEMOIR OF 

might come from the former, but could not 
reach those which came from the latter. She 
knew not how to efface the impression that 
she had been concerned in the publication of 
her own life. She forthwith sought out the 
man who had thus abused her confidence, and 
expressed her mind to him in no unequivocal 
terms. The letter which she addressed to 
him, was replete with withering sarcasm and 
irony. 'She gave him, she said, another chapter 
in her character, that he might insert it at his 
discretion in some forthcoming volume. 

All her ideas of happiness centred in the 
quiet, religious home, where the heart expands 
with kindness, and the sentiments find free 
expression. It was here, too, in the home, 
where her virtues and graces shone with pecu- 
liar lustre. He, who did not know her here, 
did not know her worthily. She possessed a 
fund of practical wisdom of incalculable value. 
She joined example and precept hand in hand 
in her every-day instruction and duty. She 
understood how to reach distant and important 
results with comparative ease. All the hands 
in the family must be employed. "One might 
as well be dead," she was wont to say, " as be 
idle." Every thing was planned with reference 



HARRIET WARE. 129 

to a proposed end. Each member in the family 
must understand his duty, and perform it at the 
proper time. Her discipline was thorough and 
effective, and her system and method embraced 
the minutest particulars. The smallest fragment 
of time must be saved. Each one must be 
employed in knitting when relieved from other 
more pressing duties. The utmost economy 
and neatness must be observed. Every thread 
and scrap of cloth must be picked up and care- 
fully laid aside. Just before her death, in a 
drowsy mood, she said to her nearest associate 
in labor, " Be careful to make the ends of your 
cloth meet, and use it all with economy." On 
being told that she was dreaming, " Yes," says 
she, "but it is all the same now that I am 
awake." 

She seldom allowed herself to sit many 
minutes without work of some kind in her 
hands. While entertaining callers and friends, 
knitting was her most common employment, 
and, even while intensely interested in conver- 
sation, her needles would be flying, as if im- 
pelled by some unseen power. Knitting work 
came at length to be called her "coat of arms ;" 
and in the daguerreotype portrait, a copy of 
which was taken only at the urgent request of 
9 



130 MEMOIR OF 

her friends, which is I believe to accompany 
the memoir of her, her knitting work has its 
appropriate place, and may serve as a fit emblem 
of the homely virtues which she honored and 
practised. 

Miss Ware's crowning virtue, and noblest 
trait of character, was her disinterested, Chris- 
tian benevolence. On this point, her whole 
life speaks. Doing good was her business, her 
life. Her sympathies were very uniformly in 
the right direction. She felt for the depressed 
and down-troddden, alike in North or South, in 
Christian or in heathen lands. The sick and 
the afflicted escaped not her kind regards. Her 
heart was alive and prompt to heed all the calls 
of humanity. Her head, too, was akin to her 
heart. Both of these members faithfully filled 
their responsible offices. The one prompted, 
and the other planned. The one throbbed with 
kind emotions, the other suggested expedients. 
And here, it may be observed that her clear, 
penetrating eye was of incalculable service to 
her. It often saved her from the tricks of wily 
impostors. She could see through thick cover- 
ings, and tell pretty nearly what was within. 
One of her scrutinizing looks would very gen- 
erally distinguish the real from the feigned, and 



HARRIET WARE. 131 

the genuine from the spurious. Her judgment 
and discretion were to be relied upon, and her 
invention and contrivance were equal to any 
exigency. 

She had, too, not only a heart to feel, and a 
head to contrive, but a hand to execute. She 
was in these respects well balanced. She moved 
mountains in her life, as if they had been mole- 
hills. She felt the desire to do, she knew where 
to put the lever, what force to apply, and where 
to apply the force. She was possessed of an 
iron will, — neither brittle nor pliant. Encoun- 
ter it you might, but bend or break it by force, 
you could not. She would die first. And this 
was one of her mottoes, — •• Conquer or die." 
She did both, and the last was her greatest 
victory. 

As a reformer, she was radical, thorough and 
efficient. Heart, head and hands came freely 
to her service. She would aim first to preserve 
and promote by direct efforts all of good that 
is about us. She would do this through the 
conservative, Christian* institutions of the day. 
The home, the school, the church, and various 
charitable institutions, she regarded as indispen- 
sable. But she did not stop here. Satan must 
not remain unencountered. He must be at- 



132 MEMOIR OF 

tacked in his camp, and all good people should 
prepare for the onset. That which is evil must 
be displaced by that which is good. Vice must 
be rooted out in order that virtue may flourish. 
With her spirit and energy prevailing in our 
midst, a greater labor would be performed, than 
the " cleansing of Augean stables." The houses 
of corruption and drunkenness, which now in- 
fect our moral atmosphere, would be purified. 
Their inmates would either flee the city, unable 
to breathe our air, or they would be effectually 
reformed. 

As a friend, she was generous, confiding, and 
to be confided in, and numerous are her surviv- 
ors, who will bless her memory till their latest 
day. And her deeds of kindness to the sick, 
the needy and the wretched, can be known only 
at the final judgment. 

Life was in her eyes intensely interesting. 
The future and the eternal seemed concentrated 
in the present. The following verses from 
Longfellow's " Psalm of Life," express her pre- 
vailing feeling : - 

" Life is real ! Life is earnest ! 
And the grave is not its goal ; 
' Dust thou art, to dust returnest,' — 
Was not spoken of the soul. 



HARRIET WARE. 133 

11 Not enjoyment and not sorrow, 
Is our destined end or way ; 
But to act, that each to-morrow 
Finds us farther than to-day. 

" Trust no future, howe'er pleasant ! 
Let the dead past bury its dead ! 
Act, — act in the living present ! 
Heart within and God o'erhead ! " 

It was my privilege to witness the closing 
scene of Miss Ware's life. There was nothing 
ecstatic in her manner, but a calm, heavenly 
spirit seemed to pervade the place. " Friends, 
do retire, and take rest; you need it," — was 
her language to some of her household, in the 
midst of her dying pains. " Tell them I am 
strong in death." With these words the spirit 
left the body, and the soul returned to God, 
who gave it. 

Very respectfully yours, 

Amos Perry. 

To Rev. Dr. Wayland. 



Miss Ware expired June 26th, 1847, in the 
48th year of her age. 

The following communication, addressed to 
the friend associated with Miss Ware in the care 



134 



MEMOIR OF 



of the " Children's Home," was received after 
Dr. Wayland had resigned the manuscript to 
the committee appointed to attend to its publi- 
cation. 

Esteemed Friend. — I will give you briefly 
as I well can, my leading impressions of Miss 
Ware. I think I cannot be mistaken in them, 
for she was singularly above disguise ; and be- 
ing, as I was, for the last seven years of her 
life, almost her very next door neighbor, I had, 
both in her periods of health and of sickness, 
most free and frequent conversations with her, 
as leisure offered and occasion suggested, upon 
a wide variety of those interests of religion and 
philanthropy, in which her heart so much led 
its daily life. And thus I am sure I cannot be 
deceived in regard to those essentials of her 
character of which I shall now speak. 

How clearly her active energy was one of 
them, the dullest who knew her, and will think 
of her a moment, will readily affirm. For it 
marked every hour of her life ; not only when 
health, or endurable disease, permitted the cease- 
less labor of both body and mind ; but when 
also the mind alone could labor on, as it did to 
the last, amidst the disorder of the prostrate 
body. Who ever saw her idle or leisurely em- 



HARRIET WARE. 135 

ployed? All her nature was alive with the 
spirit of busy energy. Without it, or with less 
of it, she could not have been all she was, nor 
could have done all she did. And that she 
might be and do all she was and did, He who 
formed her being, laid through all its powers 
the basis of a rare, ever impulsive energy. And 
its action was all efficiency, as the action of true 
power always is. Others might bustle, impos- 
ingly, she was efficient without ado. This one 
rare basis gift from the Author of her being, 
guided by others he superadded, filled her life, 
closing at its mid-day, with results as rare as 
itself. 

And He who gave her, through every power, 
this ever impulsive life, placed it, in the very 
make of her nature, under the control of two 
higher, most happy elements of character, a 
tender, faithful sympathy, and a quick, exact 
conscience. For when was she ever unmoved 
at the thought of evil borne, or of a defect in 
good enjoyed by a fellow-creature, and being 
moved at the thought of either, when was she 
ever unscrupulous of the means of relief at- 
tempted ? Sympathy and conscience furnished 
a most auspicious lead for her rare efficiency. 
They guided it towards results as good as they 
might be uncommon. 



136 



MEMOIR OF 



But another guiding influence was added, 
which was still more powerful, and more nearly- 
infallible. It was the religion of Christ, made 
vital in the heart by regeneration, which con- 
stitutes immeasurably the highest excellence 
known in human character, since sin first sup- 
planted holiness from within the nature of man. 
Being early in life brought under the influence 
of this principle, it became thenceforward the 
ruling spirit of her character. Its great power 
over her, may, in part, be seen in her estimate 
of the Scriptures. In other books, so far as they 
were unindebted to the Bible, she saw at best 
only the low wisdom of sinful men. In the 
Bible, she heard only the voice of God. On 
other books she could sit in judgment ; with a 
spirit, how free, and modestly absolute ! Before 
the Bible, she sat, only to be judged ; how un- 
questioning ! and that whether its clear, divine 
voice approved, or condemned, the affections of 
her heart, the views of her understanding, the 
purposes of her will, or the doings of her life. 
For she was not one of those who preposter- 
ously think it to be less the prerogative of a 
book truly divine, to dictate views to the under- 
standing, than purposes to the will, or actions 
to the life. Nor did her reason ever pine for a 



HARRIET WARE. 137 

liberty and range wider than that of all truth 
divine. Its most unsearchable teachings were 
to her as absolute verities, as its simplest. 

As an example, through all my numerous and 
most free conversations with her, I do not re- 
member the slightest suspicion ever to have 
passed upon my feelings, that her mind ever 
knew one momentary doubt in reference to the 
fundamental doctrines of the evangelical faith 
to which she adhered. My conceptions of her 
in this respect is nothing short of this, that her 
faith, nurtured in the Spirit and Word of God, 
so distinctly and positively recognised those 
great truths that she knew not even the temp- 
tation to doubt. For as the Lord Jesus said to 
his disciples, " He, — the Holy Spirit, — shall 
take of the things that are mine and shall show 
them unto you ; " I most readily conceive of 
the Omnipresent Spirit as so taking of the 
things of Christ's uncreated glory, and showing 
them to her, in her devout meditations, as to 
render them an intuitive and immovable cer- 
tainty to her mind. And as Jesus said also to 
his followers, respecting the Divine Spirit, 
"The world seeth him not, neither knoweth 
him, but ye know him, for he dwelleth with 
you, and shall be in you ; " therefore most nat- 



13S 



MEMOIR OF 



urally do I conceive of the condescending Spirit 
as so dwelling with our lowly minded friend, 
as so being in her soul in his illumining and 
purifying work, that she could as soon question 
the power of Deity actuating nature without, 
as the power of absolute Deity actuating her 
soul within to truth and holiness. She stands, 
to my view, not only in these, but also in all 
the strong points of her religious faith, a marked 
exemplification of these most suggestive words 
of Christ and of his prophets, concerning his 
true disciples, " They shall be all taught of 
God" She was, I must think, eminently 
" taught of God," according to the uncommon 
measure of her devout lowliness before Him, 
and of her simple-hearted, absolute faith in 
Him, and in his word. 

Chide not, I beg you, the extent of this at- 
tempted insight into the inmost interior of her 
spiritual life ; for there, in these inmost ele- 
ments, was the vital centre and sum of its 
singular strength. If I may not speak fully of 
these, I must be silent. Set me not to appre- 
ciate a strong mechanism, yet at the same time 
forbid me insight into the inmost seat of its 
moving power. Analysis is knowledge ; inti- 
mate analysis is thorough knowledge. The 



HARRIET WARE. 139 

thorough religious life I would now at least 
faintly sketch, had its central seat of a thorough 
religious power. It was our friend's devout 
sense of the being and glories of the living 
God. And this, I am sure, it is no adulation to. 
say, raised her piety to that highest grade which 
it attains, godliness ; the nearest approximation 
made on earth to the eternal form of the spirit- 
ual life in heaven. So far was her faith from 
being a mere cold, fruitless, theological dogma; 
it was, instead, the inmost vitality of the most 
heavenly love and joys, her soul reached here 
below. 

And her religious love and joys could not 
have attained the degree they did, without her 
strong estimate of sin. Its strength, as she 
continually uttered and acted it, you have often 
impressively felt. Does it not sometimes still 
return, through memory, upon you, like a kind 
of second conscience, coming as a supernatural 
visitant from a sainted dweller in the world of 
spirits ; and for the time, waking all your soul, 
as if to the very estimate of sin, which fills all 
minds in that world of the immortal and the 
glorious ? How seldom have we met with one 
whose whole spirit was fraught with so keen, 
so thoroughly conscientious and scriptural a 



140 MEMOIR OF 

sense of the essential evil of all sin. It stood 
to her view, as involving intrinsic evil, without 
limit ; therefore demerit, without limit, and 
therefore if unrepented and unforgiven, drawing 
on an award of woe, without limit, in the only 
direction in which it can be, that of duration. 
To suppose all earnest emotions of a renewed 
heart, and all vivid conceptions of a spiritually 
enlightened mind, gathered into one most in- 
tense sentiment of reprobation, and feeling of 
vehement repugnance, would not exceed my 
conception of her disposition towards sin ; es- 
pecially as she saw it in her own fallen nature. 
And she saw sin in so strong a light, because 
she saw and felt it to be utter wrong, done to 
more than one or two immediate divine mani- 
festations of infinite goodness and grace. To 
say the least, she saw it to be utmost wrong, 
not less to atoning, interceding mercy, and to 
renovating grace, than to providential goodness. 
In this light, it was spiritual evil redoubled and 
redoubled upon itself. 

But a paradox though it be, this very sense 
of God, and of sin, made pardon a good, truly 
immeasurable, as is the evil of sin forgiven ; 
and a good immediately divine also, since it is 
the purchase of a Divine Atonement. The 



HARRIET WARE. 141 

same high faith made the renovation of the soul 
from indwelling sin to indwelling holiness, a 
joy measureless also, and as truly, immediately 
divine. This also opened upon her a view of 
all providential dispensations, as guided by a 
hand divine, subserving so great a redemption, 
and yielding therefore a joy divine and fathom- 
less. In this her divine faith, the great elements 
of her spiritual life were thus joy redoubled and 
redoubled upon joy ; which eternity shall cease- 
lessly deepen and heighten, and ceaselessly 
attest to be all divine. Here, in these grand 
essentials of her religious character, is found 
the spirit of her ardent attachment to the whole 
evangelical church, and the spirit also of her 
most careful fidelity in the church, in which she 
was a member in covenant ; for the care of its 
prosperity was upon her daily. 

This strong view of her interior religious life, 
illustrates most clearly, the ready ardor, with 
which she greeted the first dawn of a revival of 
religion, and labored unsparingly through all its 
periods, to win souls to an experimental religion, 
so full of power and blessedness to her own 
soul, and illustrates her intense emotions, when 
any in the li Children's Home " seemed won to 
religion, experimental like her own. From her 



142 



MEMOIR OF 



strong spirituality flowed also her warm relig- 
ious compassion towards all mankind ; the bond 
and the free, heathen and Christian, Jew and 
Gentile ; towards the vile outcast Magdalen and 
the children of the vicious, in their revolting 
degradation. Like Christ, she would relieve 
the body from temporal evil, that by the attrac- 
tive kindness she might win the soul from 
eternal evil. 

It was this strong form of Christianity in her 
inmost soul, which made her every-day conver- 
sation so characteristically, so beautifully relig- 
ious. She could indulge in wit and pleasantry ; 
she often did. But they were chastened by a 
religious spirit. It never forsook her. Most 
unaffectedly did it flow in her words, out of the 
abundance of the heart. How many times, yes, 
times without number, have I felt the charm of 
that smile of artless, quiet, almost heavenly 
pleasure, which so much, ever and anon, irradi- 
ated her conversation. It beamed the more, as 
sickness bore her towards heaven. I think I 
have never seen the human will so swallowed 
up blissfully in the Divine, as it was in her, as 
she saw her course on earth approaching its 
close. Said she to me, most impressively, as 
she laid upon her sick bed, " I could not lift my 
finger, to alter any thing God does." 



HARRIET WARE. 143 

Such a character, from its nature, could but 
conciliate the favor and cooperation of the de- 
voutly good. But, what is far more, when God 
had formed such a character, he would honor it 
by his own powerful, providential cooperation. 
Having wrought mightily in her, he wrought 
most signally with her, and by her. Having 
made her desires greatly, purely, sacredly, be- 
nevolent, he made her work on earth greatly 
beneficent. Having made her soul, in an un- 
common degree, a monument of his efficacious 
grace, he guided and blessed her hand, to de- 
sign, and execute, and leave behind, an uncom- 
mon monument of the power of a Christian 
female for distinguished usefulness. Her invis- 
ible life of holiness, and her visible life of use- 
fulness were but counterparts of the complete 
whole of her history ; all wrought of God, to 
his own praise. 

You will not say I attribute perfection to our 
friend. She had her imperfections. But what 
were they to her virtues ? Like the shadows 
of thinly scattered clouds upon a scenery of 
broad, deep, pure light. Such was her charac- 
ter, to us mortals, who, unlike the Omniscient, 
look at the outward appearance ; and the 
shadows grew less and less, until, did not all 



144 



MEMOIR OF 



seem like holy light, as mortal eyes surrendered 
up the object of their gaze to those of the an- 
gelic convoy ? 

I shall never forget the sweet evening hour, 
that completed her history here below ; for 
her chamber looked full upon our own, but just 
across the way ; and we but too well knew that 
the moment, by others deprecated, and to her 
most welcome, had arrived. The evening scene 
befitted her transition from an earthly to a 
heavenly abode. The air was all hushed to 
listening stillness. From a cloudless sky, the 
moon, midway its ascent in the east, poured its 
full, soft radiance on all around. The azure 
above and verdure below, waited motionless, 
decked in serene, solemn beauty. She, our 
dying friend, asked to look out once more on 
nature ; for she loved God in his works, while 
she adored Him unutterably in his word of 
grace and salvation. And then she left us all, 
whom she loved, and who loved her, that mes- 
sage, far as I know, so entirely unique in the 
annals of Christian obituary, yet so expressive 
of the very spirit of her nature, of her inmost 
religious life, and of her history, " Tell them all 
I am strong in death" 

In sacred sympathy, your friend, 

Jonathan Leavitt. 



HARRIET WARE. 145 



CONCLUSION. 

I have but little to add to the foregoing de- 
lineations of the character of Miss Ware. A 
few suggestions, however, have occurred to me 
as worthy of notice, in order to render the con- 
ception of her manner of life more distinct and 
individual. 

In religious belief, Miss Ware was an Ortho- 
dox Congregationalist, adhering, with her char- 
acteristic firmness, to the sentiments of the 
eminent divines of that denomination. It is 
my impression, that her views coincided with 
those of Jonathan Edwards more nearly than 
with those of any other uninspired teacher. 
She had, it is true, been a disciple of Dr. Em- 
mons, whom she loved and revered with almost 
a filial affection ; but the structure of her mind, 
and the circumstances in which she was placed, 
led her, as I apprehend, to less abstract views of 
truth than those adopted by that distinguished 
theologian. The doctrines ever present to her 
thoughts were those of the entire alienation of 
the human heart from God, the utter impossi- 
bility of justification by the works of the law, 
the divinity of Christ, the free offer of eternal 
10 



146 MEMOIR OF 

life through his merits and intercession; the 
necessity of the agency of the Spirit to the 
conversion of sinners and the sanctification of 
believers ; the simple veracity of all the prom- 
ises of God, and the necessity of self-denying 
good works as an evidence of piety. In earlier 
life, she dwelt much on the sovereignty of God, 
but, in later years, as she has remarked, the 
doctrine of " Christ crucified " had more entirely 
occupied her attention. What, however, was 
particularly remarkable in her character, was 
not the belief of these doctrines, but the manner 
in which she believed them. Every one of 
them was not merely an article of belief, but 
the reason for a particular line of conduct. 
Hence they became the mould in which her 
character was cast ; the principles which deter- 
mined her action in the ordinary as well as the 
extraordinary circumstances of life. The su- 
perintending providence of God was to her a 
ground for unfailing trust. The goodness of 
God was a perpetual incitement to gratitude ; 
the holiness of God repelled her from sin ; the 
love of Christ constrained her ; and thus, she 
rapidly grew to the stature of consistent and 
well developed Christianity. 

While, however, her attainments in the Chris- 



HARRIET WARE. 147 

tian life were thus uncommon, it is scarcely 
possible to conceive of a person penetrated with 
more sincere humility. She evidently loathed 
to hear herself spoken of with any particular 
commendation. Her views of the Christian 
character were so elevated, and her conceptions 
of the holiness of God so intense, that, compar- 
ing herself by these standards, she habitually 
adopted the language of the publican, " God be 
merciful to me a sinner." The idea that she 
could by any good work bring God under any 
obligation, or do any thing that could be of the 
nature of a justification, was specially odious to 
her. She knew that if she had done all, she 
would be but an unprofitable servant ; and 
knowing that all her services were imperfect 
and mingled with sin, she sought for justifica- 
tion wholly through the merits of Christ, and 
from him alone looked for righteousness, sanc- 
tification and redemption. 

While, however, she held her own belief 
with rare firmness and distinctness, she was in 
a remarkable degree free from censoriousness. 
That perfect freedom which she claimed for 
herself, she was prompt to concede to others. 
Uniting with all who were willing to unite with 
her in any good work, when there was no sur- 



148 MEMOIR OF 

render of principle, she forbore to judge those 
who differed from her. Knowing that to his 
own master every one of us standeth or falleth, 
she was not prone to prejudge the decision of 
Omniscience ; and while she held that every por- 
tion of revealed truth was of inestimable im- 
portance, she pretended not to determine, in any 
particular case, how great a degree of error is 
of necessity exclusive of the hope of salvation. 
In order to the more perfect appreciation of 
the character of Miss Ware, it may not be inap- 
propriate to refer to the defects to which she 
was naturally liable. These seemed to me, not 
to belong to her principles of action, but rather 
to the practical results to which she was led. 
Like many persons of strong original views, she 
was perhaps not sufficiently aware of the limits 
within which general principles must frequently 
be restricted. Thus, her desire to befriend 
orphans, was, I think, liable to lead her into a 
course by which vicious parents might be re- 
lieved of their natural responsibility. Her desire 
to rescue from destruction every child that was 
brought to her, would sometimes induce her to 
receive into the family those whom other per- 
sons would have preferred to send to the alms- 
house, from a fear of the moral contamination 



HARRIET WARE. 149 

which they might communicate to others. Her 
benevolence led her rather to look at the indi- 
vidual good that might be accomplished, than 
at the general principles by which all good 
effort is to be regulated. 

Whatever were the errors, however, to which 
she might be liable, the practical injury was less 
under her supervision than under that of any 
person whom I remember to have known. She 
was so eminently self-sacrificing, and so sleep- 
lessly vigilant, that her practice corrected in a 
remarkable degree the evils of her theory; and 
hence, the success of her efforts was such as 
has rarely in any similar case been realized. If, 
in this manner, she erred in judgment, her errors 
were those of an unusually independent, self- 
sacrificing and earnest benevolence. The pro- 
portion of persons of this character is, unfortu- 
nately, too small to render their errors of great 
practical evil to the cause of Christian charity. 

The personal appearance , of Miss Ware was, 
in no respect, remarkable. Her features were 
plain, and except her eye, which was intense 
and intelligent, she would not have been distin- 
guished from any woman in the ordinary walks 
of life. Her dress was not only simple but 
cheap. She had far too high a conception of 



150 



MEMOIR OF 



the value of money, to spend it upon any thing 
merely ornamental. She needed all she could 
command in order to gratify her impassioned 
benevolence, and hence she restricted her ex- 
penses within the narrowest possible limit, that 
she might reserve the more to bestow upon the 
needy. Her manners were natural and un- 
affected. As she never appeared any where 
without a definite reason, the object so totally 
occupied her mind that she never thought of 
herself, and her strong sense at once pointed out 
the position which good breeding would require 
her to assume. Always self-possessed, always 
frank and fearless, she spoke on all occasions 
the language of simple verity ; but she never 
spoke with acrimony, and never violated the 
usages which protect from invasion the minor 
rights of our fellow-men. 

The lesson which may be learned from this 
brief narrative, is, I think, easily learned ; I 
wish that I could add, it is easily put in prac- 
tice. I think it teaches, that a great power for 
good is placed in the hands of all of us, if we 
had but the energy and self-sacrifice to use it. 
Here was a young woman of ordinary New 
England education, endowed with no power of 
fascination, destitute of friends, and almost un- 



HARRIET WARE. 151 

known in this city, who visited it on an errand 
of mercy. She entered at once upon the most 
self-denying undertaking within her knowledge. 
She thought of nothing but her object ; and 
God, who knew her heart, furnished her with 
aid as she needed it. As obstacles presented 
themselves, she surmounted them ; and when 
her plans, in the course of divine Providence, 
seemed all to be frustrated, it turned out, in the 
end, that disappointment was nothing but the 
means of leading her to the very field of useful- 
ness which, above all others, she had specially 
longed for. As means were needed, they were 
from time to time supplied ; and she was not 
removed by death until her most cherished 
wishes were gratified, and an institution was 
permanently founded for the benefit of those 
orphans to whom she had consecrated her life. 
Did Christian men and women adopt and act 
upon her principles, how soon would vice and 
misery be banished from the earth. Such, it 
seems to me, is the lesson to be learned from 
her life : and every page of her brief history is 
written over and over with the command, " Go 
thou and do likewise." 



w 



